Premiership
A message to our supporters from Lance Bradley, CEO
Dear All,
You will have seen in the news about Worcester Warriors being suspended from all competitions, and subsequently going into administration. You will also have read that Wasps are facing significant financial challenges, and have given notice of applying for administration.
Firstly, I wanted to say that I’m sure, like me, you have huge sympathy for the staff, players and fans of those clubs going through that uncertainty. We may be rivals on the pitch, but not off it – they’re all people like you and me.
You may also have seen speculation in the press and on social media about the overall financial state of English club rugby.
I wanted to take a moment to give you a few facts, and to reassure you about the position that we are in at Gloucester Rugby.
Through careful planning, the efforts of our fantastic staff across the organisation, and, of course the tremendous support we enjoy from our fans and business partners, our financial position is the best it’s been for many years. As we emerge from the impact of Covid our operating profitability is heading towards positive levels, and last year saw our highest ever turnover. We have developed a five-year plan which shows both those key measurements continuing to improve.
We’re not where we want to be yet, but we are heading firmly in the right direction.
You may have read that both Worcester and Wasps have significant debts with HMRC. We do not owe anything to HMRC.
There was an article in an online newspaper a couple of weeks ago which ended up being widely shared which suggested that Gloucester Rugby’s debt was around £27 million. That figure is completely wrong. Our debts are nowhere near that level. It is reasonable to assume that as that newspaper got our numbers so wrong, that their other numbers are also wrong.
We did take out a loan from DCMS as part of the Sports Survival Package (every Premiership club took out a similar loan, some for more, some for less than ours). We have robust plans in place which will allow us to pay back that loan when the payments become due in a couple of years’ time. The repayment period is over many years, so will not put undue pressure on us.
Unfortunately, Worcester being suspended from competition and then going into administration means that our scheduled game against them on Saturday has been called off. It has not yet been decided whether it is postponed or cancelled. That will depend to some extent on how quickly Worcester are able to come out of administration. If it happens quickly, and only a game or two are missed, then I expect the game will be rescheduled. If not then I expect it will be cancelled.
Having a home game cancelled does, of course, have a significant financial impact on us. It also has an impact on the many local businesses that depend on Gloucester Rugby match days to boost their income. As a fan of the Club, and perhaps as someone who enjoys a pre-match routine at local pubs or restaurants, the one big thing that you could do to help is to come to more games, buy one more pint, buy one more pie.
If everyone came to one more game than they had planned to do this season, that would overcome the impact of the potential cancellation of Worcester game – on both your Club and all those local businesses.
And with the way the squad is playing this year, you’re pretty much guaranteed a really exciting day out. Our next home game is against Bristol on Saturday 15th October, and the one after that is against Exeter on Friday 28th October. You can buy your tickets here.
We have announced an open training session on Saturday instead of the game. If you haven’t been to Kingsholm so far this season do please come and join us. It’s free to get in (although you will need a ticket – click here for yours), so why not bring the whole family? You’ll have a chance not only to watch the senior men’s team train, but also to meet the players afterwards. Full details are here. You can even get your rugby match fix by staying on in the Stowford Clubhouse to watch the Saracens v Leicester game with us on BT Sport.
We look forward to welcoming you to Kingsholm soon.
Best wishes
Lance
Content & Images from – Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
