» Gloucester insist star winger Thorley is not leaving,

ENGLAND international winger Ollie Thorley is going nowhere says Gloucester Rugby chief commercial officer Alex Brown.

Since the departure of David Humphreys as director of rugby in the summer, Brown has doubled up his roles at the club and in collaboration with chief executive Lance Bradley and head coach George Skivington, is heading up recruitment at the Cherry and Whites.

This week transfer rumour specialists Rugby Inside Line reported Sale Sharks are interested in adding the services of Gloucester’s home grown talent Thorley having lost Chris

Ashton to Harlequins in the spring. Thorley, now 24, became Gloucester’s youngest player to play in the professional era when he made his debut at 17 in the AngloWelsh Cup against Northampton Saints in November 2013. And the former Cheltenham College captain made his England debut in October as they beat Italy in Rome to claim the 2020 Six Nations title.

In October, 2019, it was announced that Thorley had signed a new contract extension with the club but the length of his deal was undisclosed.

Speaking at the Gloucester Rugby fans forum, Brown said: “First of all I wanted to put something to bed.

“We had this rumour come around about Ollie Thorley suddenly going to Sale.

“I just wanted to categorically put it on record that Ollie Thorley is not going anywhere, he is very much enjoying his time here.

“We are delighted he is with us and we can put that one to bed.

“Some of these rumours that come out do make me laugh.”

Brown continued to say the club’s recruitment strategy going forward is focused around retaining Gloucester’s key stars and continuing to bring talented players through the academy but importantly keeping them at the club having seen a number of people move on in recent years only to prove their abilities at rival clubs, most notably Bristol Bears.

I just wanted to categorically put it on record that Ollie Thorley is not going anywhere, he is very much enjoying his time here. We are delighted he is with us and we can put that one to bed Alex Brown