Gloucester add to coaching staff, give first verdict on new signings

George Skivington has revealed that he has added Declan Danaher and Billy Twelvetrees to the staff at Gloucester ahead of the new Gallagher Premiership season. The Kingsholm boss also delivered his first verdict on the club’s major new signings, Wales half-backs Gareth Anscombe and Tomos Williams and former Racing winger Christian Wade.

A former teammate and coaching colleague of Skivington’s at London Irish, Danaher coached the Ireland women’s defence in the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year and he has been working at Gloucester during their pre-season but his involvement isn't yet permanent.

It was last week when Scott Bemand announced an overhaul of his Ireland staff ahead of the upcoming WXV1 that included the naming of Hugh Hogan as their new defence coach in place of Danaher.

As regards Twelvetrees, the former Gloucester player who retired from playing at Ealing at the end of the 2023/24 season, he was named last month as the new backs and attack coach at Hartpury but he will now double up as a skills coach at Gloucester, similar to the two-club work that Jonny Goodridge did before leaving for Cardiff.

Addressing the fans who turned up at Kingsholm on bank holiday for an opening training session after six weeks of pre-season were followed by a week off for the squad, Skivington said: “We have got Dec Danaher who is helping us with the breakdown, a very experienced coach in numerous places, most recently with Ireland women.

“He is a breakdown specialist. Brilliant. I think James (Lightfoot Brown) mentioned it earlier when he spoke to you about how important the breakdown is going to be for the way we are going to play this year.

“And obviously Billy Twelvetrees, who you know is now attack coach at Hartpury. It is attack coach with Hartpury but he will have a dual role. We had Jonny Goodridge in that role last year (now at Cardiff). He [Twelvetrees] will come over and assist us with skills and make sure our lads who are looking to play for Hartpury, make sure that transition is as lined up as we can have it so the boys are really aligned with what we do.”

Although victory in the Premiership Rugby Cup final over Leicester in March ended the Gloucester trophy drought that stretched back to 2015, the Cherry and Whites finished tailed off in ninth place in the Premiership and were also second best in the EPCR Challenge Cup final versus Sharks in London.

Asked what improvements Gloucester would be chasing in 2024/25, Skivington explained: “The biggest thing for us last year was we didn’t feel like we had an identity… we could change each week.

“To break it down very simply we want our defence back which was a tough old defence the last few seasons and last season wasn’t, so we want put pressure in defence and take a few risks there. We want our maul back, our set-piece dominance.

“Both of those we have had before so we know how to coach them, we know how to go after that. The big issue will be our attack where we have got to take some chances and let the boys throw the ball around a little bit. That comes with a few errors but just backing them. They have been brilliant pre-season so far throwing the ball around and that’s the big issue we are making this season.”

Gloucester begin their new campaign with a home clash versus Saracens on September 21. It was October last year when the Londoners visited Kingsholm and spanked the home side 24-3 in round three of the league, but Skivington is optimistic his squad will be a tougher proposition this term given the calibre of their new additions.

“Something we identified last year is we have got some brilliant half-backs coming through but they are young so Gareth and Tomas are obviously a very experience nine and 10. They have been brilliant. They are not just brilliant as a link between the coaches and the players, but they are also brilliant for the young talent we have coming through.

“Those young guys have been in the deep end the last few seasons and now they have got brains they can pick, people they can follow and watch. So those two have been brilliant to follow and Christian, he brings a lot of energy and is an outstanding professional and a lot of these young wingers are going to really learn some good stuff off him.”