Atkinson For Sale

Mark Atkinson starts his first game in a year for Gloucester as the Cherry and Whites travel to Greater Manchester for a Friday night game (kick off 7.45)

Atkinson suffered a serious knee injury at Bath in October 2022. He will be looking to resurrect his career against Sale alongside skipper Chris Harris in the centre.

Quite a few other changes this week as sixth place host fifth.  Val Rapava-Ruskin return to the front row and Arthur Clark is back at lock,  while Ben Donnell and Jack Clement come into the back row.

In the backs Charlie Chapman will be at  scrum-half and  Jake Morris starts at full back

There's also a new face on the  bench where the experienced scrum half Micky Young joins the club after helping Toulon out while their stars have been playing  in the World Cup. Young has had spells with  Falcons,.Bath and Leicester and provides short-term cover.

Gloucester: 15. Jake Morris  14. Jack Reeves 13. Chris Harris (Capt) 12. Mark Atkinson 11. Alex Hearle 10. George Barton 9. Charlie Chapman 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin 2. Jack Singleton  3. Kirill Gotovtsev 4. Freddie Thomas 5. Arthur Clark 6. Albert Tuisue 7. Ben Donnell 8. Jack Clement.

Bench: 16. Santi Socino 17. Harry Elrington 18. Ciaran Knight 19. Cam Jordan 20. Harry Taylor 21. Micky Young 22. Max Llewellyn 23. Josh Hathaway