European Cup record

The only time Gloucester have gone beyond the last eight of the competition was in the 2000/01 season, when they reached the semi-finals, only to go down 19-15 to Leicester Tigers at Watford. They have made the last eight on two other occasions – in 2003/04 and 2007/08.

Last season

Gloucester finished ahead of Montpellier and Connacht in Pool 5 last season, beating both teams at the Kingsholm Stadium. However, narrow away defeats to both, coupled with two losses to pool winners Toulouse, saw them fail to progress to the quarter-finals as one of the three best second-placed sides.

Head coach

George Skivington – A former London Irish forwards coach and Samoa assistant coach, Skivington was appointed in June 2020 following Johan Ackermann’s departure. As a player, he racked up over 100 appearances for London Wasps, and later turned out for Leicester Tigers and London Irish.

Key players

Gloucester have a wealth of international talent on the wings in Jonny May, Matt Banahan, Charlie Sharples, Ollie Thorley and Louis Rees-Zammit. They are also well blessed in the back row with Italy No.8 Jake Polledri and England international Ben Morgan, as well as at half-back in England trio Danny Cipriani, Joe Simpson and Willi Heinz.

Pool fixtures

Gloucester take on Ulster Rugby for the first time in the competition since the 2007/08 season, when the English club ran in five unanswered tries to secure a memorable 29-21 victory and secure a place in the quarter-finals. There is also a maiden European meeting with Lyon.

The next team on the agenda for our look into Pool B of the Heineken Champions Cup are two-time European Rugby Challenge Cup winners Gloucester Rugby.