Purdy Debut

Henry Purdy will make his debut at outside centre in the team which takes on Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm on Friday night ...

He's in for Henry Trinder who hurt his shoulder last week and will, no doubt, be pleased that his decision to leave Tigers last summer has produced such quick results.

Purdy has been capped by England U20's and showed enough in the Glaws 7s side to get us all a bit excited.

There are two other changes with Sila Puafisi for John Afoa at tight-head  and Tom Palmer for James Hudson in the second row.
Elliott Stooke and Matt Kvesic both reteurn but have to be content with a pace on the bench.


Gloucs: Rob Cook, Charlie Sharples, Henry Purdy, Billy Twelvetrees (captain), Jonny May, James Hook, Greig Laidlaw, Dan Murphy, Richard Hibbard, Sila Puafisi, Tom Savage, Tom Palmer, Sione Kalamafoni, Ross Moriarty, Ben Morgan .

Bench: Aleki Lutui, Yann Thomas, John Afoa, Elliott Stooke, Matt Kvesic, , Bill Meakes, Dan Robson, Mark Atkinson.

The Chiefs arrive off the back of a narrow defeat by Tigers last week and they alkso make a couple of changes. Ben Moon comes in at loosehead and Damian Welch starts in the second row.

Chiefs: Chrysander Botha, Ian Whitten, Henry Slade, Sam Hill, Matt Jess, Gareth Steenson, Haydn Thomas, Ben Moon, Jack Yeandle (capt), Tomas Francis, Mitch Lees, Damian Welch, Dave Ewers, Ben White, Thomas Waldrom.

Bench: Elvis Taione, Carl Rimmer, Moray Low, Ryan Caldwell,  Kai Horstmann,  Will Chudley,  Phil Dollman, Jack Nowell