Gloucester Rugby transfers in and out: How the 2023/24 squad is shaping up

With seismic cracks opening up at other clubs around the Premiership due to financial pressures and salary cap constraints, Gloucester Rugby’s squad is looking reassuringly consistent heading into 2023/24.

While that might not seem like the best news at face value after the Cherry and Whites finished the season in a disappointing 10th place, there is a general sense of frustration within the club and the playing group that they underperformed last season. Injuries devastated the squad meaning throughout the campaign meaning a number of key stars and leaders only managed to play bit parts in the campaign and yet there is a strong argument to be made that there was very little difference in quality between second-from-bottom Gloucester and fourth-place finishers Northampton Saints. And there is no doubt some rivals have got weaker, with the likes of Exeter Chiefs seeing a mass exodus of stars.

Gloucester have yet to announce their official retention and departers list with a few contract negotiations still understood to be ongoing with the current crop of players in contract until the end of June.

However here is a look at the ins and outs that have been confirmed along with a long list of contract renewals.

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Table of Contents

Confirmed signings

Zack Mercer – number eight – Montpellier

Max Llewellyn – centre – Cardiff Rugby

Contract extensions

Kirill Gotovstsev

Fraser Balmain

Val Rapava-Ruskin

Jamal Ford-Robinson

Ciaran Knight

Mayco Vivas

Alex Seville

Jack Singleton

Freddie Clarke

Ruan Ackermann

Lloyd Evans

Ollie Thorley

George Barton

Stephen Varney

Jack Reeves

Seb Atkinson

Jake Morris

Confirmed departures

Ben Morgan – number eight – retired

Jordy Reid – flanker – Ealing Trailfinders

Jack Polledri – backrow – Zebre

Billy Twelvetrees – centre – Ealing Trailfinders

Tom Seabrook – winger/centre – Northampton Saints

Finn Theobald-Thomas – hooker – Leicester Tigers

Jack Bartlett – number eight – Coventry Rugby

Gone during the season

Andrew Davidson – lock – Ealing Trailfinders

Key signing

Zach Mercer returns to the Premiership after a highly successful two seasons playing in France for Montpellier, leading to the club to the Top 14 title last season on his way to being named the league’s best player.

The 25-year-old, two cap England international, is now back in the Premiership and looking to lock down a place in Steve Borthwick’s England squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Former Gloucester boss Philippe Saint-Andre, who is now head coach at Montpellier, was certainly glowing in his appraisal of Mercer.

Speaking to The Evening Standard Rugby Podcast Saint-Andre said: “He was the player of the year in the Top 14 last season.

“Zach Mercer, he is amazing for us. He was the best in France last season, very consistent. He works hard, he’s very, very skillful. He’s a fantastic rugby player, and his work rate it’s amazing.

“When you are a coach of internationals you need guys with a good work rate. He’s improved his defence a lot, now he’s very, very strong one to one and he understands the game. He will try to attack the weak shoulder. He’s a fantastic rugby player.