'They did take a punt on me': Gloucester extend Skivington deal

Gloucester have announced that George Skivington has committed his future to Kingsholm after signing a new long-term deal with the Cherry and Whites. A club statement read: “The 39-year-old joined Gloucester in the summer of 2020 as head coach and is now coming to the end of his second full season at the helm.

“Joining in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, Skivington helped steer the team through a turbulent season and used the challenges of that initial few months to lay the foundations which have been built on this year.

“The 2021/22 season has seen great improvement with Gloucester pushing for a top-four spot in the Gallagher Premiership, reaching the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup, and making the semi-final of the Premiership Rugby Cup.”

Skivington said: “I’m massively grateful to Gloucester for giving me this contract. The club did take a punt on me. There were higher profile coaches that they could have gone for which would have been the easy option in terms of people’s perceptions.

“My ambition is to prove them right and show them that they have hired the right guy and I will continue to do that. We want to be a successful club year after year. 

“What we have done over the last couple of years is lay really good foundations. We have grown the way we play and the culture so that everyone knows what is expected of them day to day. There is huge untapped potential and that is massively exciting.”

Gloucester CEO Lance Bradley added: “We have been delighted with what George has brought to the club. We have a long-term vision for success both on and off the field, and George has made - and continues to make - a significant contribution towards that.

“Nothing that is worth having comes without teamwork and a lot of hard work over a period of time. This season we are starting to see the results of that teamwork and hard work and with the extension of George’s contract, we are sure we will see things building further over the next few seasons.”