Gloucester 2013/14 Thread

[HongKongCherry]

First topic message reminder :

In a wave of originality I've come up with the following unique thread...

Here's everything Glaws for this coming season:

Squad
Prop: Wood, Murphy, Harden, Knight, Y.Thomas
Hooker: Edmonds, Britton, Dawiduik, George
Locks: Savage, James, Lokotui, Hudson, Stooke
Backrow: Kalamafoni, Qera, Kvesic, B.Morgan, Hazell, Cox, Evans
Scrum Half: Cowan, Robson, Knoyle
Fly Half: F.Burns, Taylor, Bentley
Centres: Twelvetrees, Trinder, Tindall, Mills, Molenaar
Wings: Simpson-Daniel, May, Sharples, Monahan
Fullback: O.Morgan, Cook, M.Thomas

Academy (that could play a part):
Heard, Hicks, Moriarty, B.Burns, Reynolds

New Signings:
Hudson (Newcastle), Kvesic (Worcester), Bentley (Cornish Pirates), M.Thomas (re-signed), Puafisi, Young (Cardiff)

Re-Signed:
Kalamafoni, Twelvetress, Trinder, Cook, dawiduik, Stooke, Sharples, Sinbad

Leaving:
George (Worcester)
Britton (Saints)
Edmonds (TBC)
James (retiring)
Hazell (retiring)
Cox (Worcester)
Qera (Toulouse)
T.Young (Wasps)
Cowan (TBC)
Knoyle (Cardiff)
Burns (Tigers)
Bentley (TBC)
Taylor (retiring)
Mills (Worcester)
Molenaar (Quins)
Tindall (retiring)
O.Morgan (retiring)

Likely To Leave:
Harden
Lokotui
M.Thomas

Signed for 2014/15:
Hibbard (Ospreys)
Afoa (Ulster)
Galarza (Worcester)
Palmer (Wasps)
Laidlaw (Edinburgh)
A.Thomas (Scarlets)
Atkinson (Bedford)
Isaacs (Ospreys)
McColl (Leeds)

Likely Signings for 2014/15
Rowan (Leeds)
D.Thomas
Braley (Bristol)
Hooker x2




Confirmed Fixtrues (LV & HC tbc)
9 Aug Toulon  v  Gloucester L
24 Aug Munster    v  Gloucester L
30 Aug Gloucester v  Plymouth Albion W
30 Aug Gloucester  v  Scarlet W
7 Sep Gloucester  v  Sale Sharks L
15 Sep Saracens  v  Gloucester L
21 Sep Gloucester v  Northampton Saints W
29 Sep Newcastle Falcons  v  Gloucester W
6 Oct Gloucester v  Exeter Chiefs L
25 Oct Bath v Gloucester L
2 Nov Gloucester   v  London Wasps L
23 Nov Harlequins  v  Gloucester L
30 Nov Gloucester    v  Leicester Tigers L
21 Dec Gloucester    v  Worcester Warriors W
28 Dec London Irish  v  Gloucester W
4 Jan Gloucester    v  Saracens L
7 Feb Sale Sharks  v  Gloucester L
15 Feb Leicester Tigers  v  Gloucester L
22 Feb Gloucester    v  Harlequins W
1 Mar Northampton Saints  v  Gloucester L
22 Mar Gloucester    v  Newcastle Falcons W
29 Mar Exeter Chiefs  v  Gloucester W
12 Apr Gloucester    v  Bath L
19 Apr London Wasps  v  Gloucester L
3 May Gloucester    v  London Irish W
10 May Worcester Warriors  v  Gloucester L

[flyhalffactory]

"I would like to thank everyone at Perpignan for the past three years, which have been memorable," Hook told the Gloucester website.  

"It's very disappointing to see the side relegated, but I'm sure they will bounce right back and I sincerely hope they do so.

"However, I'm absolutely delighted to be embarking upon the next exciting phase of my career as a Gloucester Rugby player."

That is an excellent signing to add to an impressive array coming into Kingsholm, James Hook has vast experience, uniquely talented and at 28 is at his career peak. He has at least four years still at the top. He should fit in well, hope he plays 10 as the set up at Glaws fits his style of play well.

[RDW]

From a Scotland point of view I'm delighted with the Hook signing, as it will put the stupid idea of Laidlaw playing at 10 to bed.

How much gametime to Gloucester fans think Laidlaw will get? Cowan is probably the better 9 (although getting on a bit) but I'd say Laidlaw was a more reliable goal kicker than Hook.

[HongKongCherry]

Cowan is leaving Glaws RDW. Nevertheless Dan Robson was in better form than Cowan anyway, so Laidlaw will have real competition for the starting spot, especially now there is a genuine alternative for a front line goal kicker.

[RDW]

Good to hear - thanks. Laidlaw's style of play is fairly different from Hook's (i.e. organsied structured play vs more flamboyant) so will be interesting to see how that partnership works.

Gloucester are building a pretty decent team!

[Seagultaf]

I really hope that Hook finally settles down and does the hard work needed to make him a top no 10 at Gloucester but hisory suggests otherwise. He was behind; (a very young) Dan Biggar at Ospreys, Camille Lopez and Tommy Allen at Perpignan and for Wales he is now just a squad utility player.

When he broke onto the scene he looked very special but he has never developed the game management side of his game, either in defence or attack.

At 28 his powers are probably on the wane and without the game management craft to back up his undoubted skills, this is probably a lst chance saloon!

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