Goodridge in Warriors squad

» FORMER Gloucester back Jonny Goodridge came out of retirement to help Worcester fulfil their Premiership Rugby Cup game against Gloucester at Kingsholm last night (Wednesday).

Warriors academy backs and transition coach Goodridge, and former player Cinderford and Hartpury man Mat Gilbert helped the financially beleaguered club start the defence of the trophy.

Goodridge, 41, had six seasons as a full-back with Gloucester in a career that also included stints with Leeds and Bristol before he moved into coaching.

Former England Deaf international flanker Gilbert, who retired at the end of last season, was also been named as a replacement. He last played for Warriors in 2016 and he also played for Llanelli, Mogliano, Bath, Hartpury and Cinderford before he retired in April to run his own pizza business.

Gilbert was one of five guest players in the squad joining lock Ollie Curry, back-row forwards Lewis Barrett and Ethan Parkins and hooker Will Tanner.

Lock Graham Kitchener, who came off the bench in the matches against London Irish and Exeter Chiefs, was the only player in the matchday squad to have played this season.

Gloucester named a squad with four internationals, as Italian superstar Jake Polledri played his first competitive game in nearly two years, joined by fellow Azzurri international Stephen Varney at number nine while former England number eight Ben Morgan captained the side.

Gloucester: Morgan Adderly-jones; Tom Seabrook, Jack Reeves, Giorgi Kveseladze, Jake Morris; George Barton, Stephen Varney; Ciaran Knight, Henry Walker, Bryan O’connor, Arthur Clark, Freddie Thomas, Jake Polledri, Jack Clement, Ben Morgan, Replacements: Seb Blake, Henry Pearson, James Pollard, Andrew Davidson, Rob Nixon, Matty Jones, Isaac Marsh, Will Gilderson