London Irish will this week welcome back Geoff Cross, Kieran Low, Blair Cowan, Jebb Sinclair and Ofisa Treviranus to their starting line-up for the Aviva Premiership clash with Gloucester on Sunday at Madejski Stadium
There were wins for Cardiff Blues, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester and Stade Francais as the second round of European Rugby Challenge Cup fixtures drew to a close today.
Charlie Sharples marked his 150th competitive appearance for Gloucester with a hat-trick of tries as the Premiership side beat Brive 55-0 in the opening game of the European Rugby Challenge Cup at Kingsholm.
In the second instalment of Talking Rugby Union's 'Pick of the Premiership' series, we have two enormous hits from the last round of action to whet your mid-week appetites ahead of next weekend.
Exeter moved top of the Aviva Premiership after goalkickers Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade combined to punish Gloucester's poor discipline at Kingsholm.
Gloucester staged a storming second-half fightback at Kingsholm to ignite their Aviva Premiership campaign after an opening day debacle against champions Northampton.
George North led the rout as Northampton opened their Aviva Premiership title defence by making a mockery of rebuilt Gloucester's optimism for the new season.
Wales star and new Gloucester recruit Richard Hibbard has billed Friday night's Aviva Premiership season opener against champions Northampton as "a brilliant game to start with."