Prem Cup Lifeline

All eyes will be on Kingsholm this weekend. The Premiership Rugby Cup may still be struggling for recognition but for all those rugby supporters across England the Gloucs v Chiefs semi-final is the only game worth watching ( it's the only professional game being played  - Saturday kick off shortly after 3.00 p.m.).

It's a Six Nations rest week and the Premiership league games don't start again until the end of March so this competition is proving a lifeline both for players and club financial officers.

So the incentive is there to play the strongest available team and Gloucs go for a front five  Jamal Ford-Robinson, George McGuigan, Kirill Gotovtsev with locks Freddie Clarke and Cam Jordan.

Lewsi Ludlow leads from No 8. alongside Ruan Ackermann, who has apparentky signed a contract extension this week , and Zach Mercer.

The half-backs will be  Caolan Englefield and George Barton, with Seb Atkinson and Max Llewellyn in the centres and a back of three of Ollie Thorley, Alex Hearle and Lloyd Evans.

Gloucs: 15. Lloyd Evans 14. Alex Hearle 13. Max Llewellyn 12. Seb Atkinson  11. Ollie Thorley 10. George Barton 9. Caolan Englefield 1.Jamal Ford-Robinson 2. George McGuigan 3. Kirill Gotovtsev 4. Freddie Clarke  5. Cam Jordan 6. Ruan Ackermann 7. Lewis Ludlow (Capt) 8. Zach Mercer.

Bench:16. Seb Blake 17. Harry Elrington 18. Ciaran Knight 19. Arthur Clark 20. Jack Clement 21. Charlie Chapman 22. Louis Hillman-Cooper  23. Josh Hathaway.