GLOUCESTER RUGBY Welsh ace Rees-Zammit wings back

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Last Updated on Saturday, 25 March 2023 06:36

Published on Friday, 24 March 2023 06:40

Written by TIM ROGERS and MARK SMITH

Gloucester Rugby return to Premiership action at Newcastle Falcons tonight (1945).

George Skivington has been boosted by the return of his international contingent as the Cherry & Whites look to bounce back from their 26-5 home defeat to Leicester Tigers.

Louis Rees-Zammit wings back into the side after featuring for Wales in the last three rounds of the Six Nations.

Rees-Zammit joins Ollie Thorley, who penned a fresh deal at Kingsholm last week, and Lloyd Evans in the back three.

Former Falcon centre Chris Harris partners Seb Atkinson in midfield.

Stephen Varney has also been on international duty, he played all-bar-one of Italy's Six Nations fixtures. He starts inside Santi Carreras in the half-backs.

There is just one change in the pack from the fixture against Leicester two weeks ago.

Harry Elrington replaces Val Rapava-Ruskin at loosehead, joining Seb Blake and Kirill Gotovtsev in the front row.

Argentinan international prop Mayco Vivas is set for his Cherry & Whites debut from the bench.

Vivas joins Henry Walker, Jamal Ford-Robsinon, Cam Jordan and Jack Clement as cover for the forward positions, with Charlie Chapman, Billy Twelvetrees and Tom Seabrook in reserve for the backs.

USA international lock forward Greg Peterson returns for Newcastle after serving a two-game ban for the red card he received against Saracens last month – a match in which the Falcons picked up a losing bonus point despite playing a man down for more than hour away against the league leaders.

Peterson’s return sees Argentina international Pedro Rubiolo switch to the back row, with scrum-half Michael Young captaining the side on his 199th Falcons appearance.

On the bench there could be a Premiership debut for fly-half Josh Thomas, with the Welshman making seven appearances in cup action for the club after arriving from Ospreys last summer.

Newcastle are out to complete a home-and-away double over Gloucester after winning 27-21 at Kingsholm in November, and will be led for the game by interim head coach Mark Laycock.

The match at Kingston Park kicks off at 1945 and will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

Gloucester Rugby Starting XV

15. Lloyd Evans*

14. Louis Rees-Zammit*

13. Chris Harris

12. Seb Atkinson

11. Ollie Thorley*

10. Santi Carreras

9. Stephen Varney*

1. Harry Elrington

2. Seb Blake*

3. Kirill Gotovtsev

4. Freddie Clarke*

5. Matias Alemanno

6. Jordy Reid

7. Lewis Ludlow (c)*

8. Ruan Ackermann

Replacements

16. Henry Walker*

17. Mayco Vivas

18. Jamal Ford-Robinson

19. Cam Jordan*

20. Jack Clement*

21. Charlie Chapman*

22. Billy Twelvetrees

23. Tom Seabrook*

*Denotes academy graduate

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