Hastings in race to be fit to face Chiefs

ADAM Hastings missed out on Gloucester Rugby’s 29-20 victory over Newcastle on Saturday due to an injury picked up in training – and is now in a race to be fit to face Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm on Friday, write Sam Rhymes & John Evely.

Speaking after the Cherry & Whites’ third win of the Gallagher Premiership season, Skivington said: “Adam took a bang in the week and that forced us into a late switch. Lloyd Evans came in and showed really good character and composure.”

Evans played a pivotal role in Gloucester’s win over the Falcons, with his goalkicking stats reading seven attempts, seven successful for a 19-point personal haul, and with fellow fly-half Hastings due to be away for all of November on international duty with Scotland, Skivington is relishing having competition for places.

He said: “We want to have that squad who have lads dropping in and out, in and out, and everyone still delivers.”

Looking ahead to Friday, the Cherry & Whites entertain Exeter with both sides missing their England men, who are now in a training camp ahead of the autumn internationals. Gloucester will be without centre Mark Atkinson and wing Jonny May.

Scotland centre Chris Harris and stand-off Hastings will return from this week’s Dark Blues training camp to be available for selection providing they are both fit, and wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who will miss Wales’ game against New Zealand as it falls outside the international window, so Premiership players will not be released, is also available.

The Chiefs will be without Jonny Hill, Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade, who are all with England in Jersey, and they come into the game having suffered a surprise defeat to London Irish last weekend.

Discussing Friday’s encounter, Skivington said: “We know how hard it will be against Exeter, they are a quality outfit and are very well drilled. They’ve been in finals for the last seven or eight years and have won the Premiership and in Europe. We have to see where we are at against them.”

While Skivington will not have his England men, he confirmed his side suffered no additional injuries against Newcastle.