Gloucester Rugby has announced its 27-player squad that will be traveling to Georgia to face Black Lion this weekend. The team departed for Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, at 5am this morning in preparation for their inaugural match in this season’s European Rugby Challenge Cup. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1pm UK time on Saturday. The Cherry and Whites are expected to return home late Sunday evening after a five-day trip, raising concerns for director of rugby, George Skivington, as they will have a swift turnaround to host Clermont Auvergne at Kingsholm the following Friday night. Historical data has shown that home form plays a pivotal role in clubs progressing in the competition.
With the arduous schedule in mind, Skivington has carefully balanced his squad between the two games, affording key players such as Santi Carreras, Matias Alemanno, Louis Rees-Zammit, and Ollie Thorley some well-deserved time off. Speaking on his decision, Skivington emphasized the critical importance of player welfare, both physically and mentally. He highlighted the relentless fixture list, with 21 consecutive games before a break, and stressed the need to assess each player individually to determine their physical condition and playing time.
Furthermore, the director of rugby stated, “Some lads have been given some time to recharge, whilst also there’s some lads in their positions hungry to take their opportunity.”
The starting XV set to take on Black Lion at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium will be revealed at 12pm (GMT) on Friday.
The traveling squad includes a strong contingent of forwards and backs, with the likes of Archie McArthur, Jonny May, and Jack Reeves making the cut.
The inclusion of these players in the traveling squad underlines Gloucester Rugby’s commitment and dedication to achieving success in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. With the team’s departure to Georgia and the subsequent showdown with Black Lion on the horizon, fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome of this highly awaited encounter.