Skivington against ‘chopping and changing’
CONSISTENCY is key for George Skivington’s blueprint for success at Gloucester Rugby – and with the season now complete the club have confirmed just four changes in playing personnel ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, writes John Evely.
Three bit-part players during the 2021/22 season – Jason Woodward, Jack Stanley and Will Britton – will leave Kingsholm this summer, with the trio having made a combined four appearances in the Premiership.
While a couple of players’ futures are still up in the air, Cherry & Whites head coach Skivington was adamant that London Irish and Fiji number eight Albert Tuisue will be the club’s only addition. Powerhouse Tuisue has been named in Fiji’s squad for this summer’s Pacific Nations Cup.
Explaining his thinking, boss Skivington said: “The club has gone through a lot of turbulence in the last few years. When I came in there were a lot of people who left because of the impact of Covid.
“There were a lot of things up in the air, a lot of people came and went and there were many changes within the club. It is well known that if you can get some consistency in your staff, in your players, and in your approach, yes everything takes time, but you will be successful.
“I think chopping and changing and trying to find those guys who are going to light it up – the short-term fix if you like – it might work for a season, but I don’t think that is a good long-term approach.”
The jury was out on Skivington after his first full season as head coach at Gloucester, having stepped up from being in charge of London Irish’s forwards. The Cherry & Whites finished 11th of 12, with only Worcester Warriors below them in 2020/21, but with the foundations laid, this season the club have turned into play-offs contenders, missing out on a place in the semi-finals by two points to Northampton Saints despite a 54-7 victory over Saracens on the final day of the season.
Skivington, who was rewarded with a new contract last month, added: “We have got some really good people in the building who are very honest. I would love to keep this squad together for five years while bringing some youngsters through and bringing in the right people in ones and twos.”