George Skivington named new Gloucester head coach

Gloucester Rugby has confirmed London Irish forwards coach George Skivington as the new head coach of the Gallagher Premiership club.

Skivington, who played for Saracens, London Wasps, Leicester Tigers, London Irish and England Saxons has been the forwards coach of the Exiles since his retirement from playing career in 2016.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Gloucester Rugby. I’ve been very impressed with everyone I’ve met at the Club so far, and the vision they have for the Club," he told the official website of the club.

"What I particularly liked was how far-reaching the vision is, building from the Academy, through the first team, and across the whole Club. I can’t wait to play my part in it.

“When I was playing, Gloucester was one of a couple of clubs that you never fancied visiting. We want to bring that feeling back to Kingsholm".

The appointment of the 37-year-old comes after director of rugby David Humphreys and head coach Johan Ackermann left the club in the last two months and Skivington is wary of the task ahead with the Premiership targetting the resumption of 2019/20 season in August.

“I’ve had a look at the playing squad, and there are some really great players in there. It doesn’t need rebuilding, but there are obviously one or two areas that need some work.

"When Gloucester has been successful it’s always been built on having a formidable pack. We need make sure we have a pack that has the kind of reputation that it used to have. When we do that, with the skill and pace of the backs we have at the Club, we’re going to start getting the results we want again.”

Meanwhile, Gloucester also confirmed that Alex Brown will be promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer to take on more rugby related decisions in the absence of director of rugby post.

Gloucester were positioned ninth in the Gallagher Premiership table with four wins from 13 games when the tournament was suspended in March following the pandemic coronavirus.