Gloucester Rugby’s new coach says Kingsholm is “a special place” and the passion of the fans is “very clear”.
George Skivington, previously forwards coach at London Irish, has replaced Johan Ackermann and spoke about his new club and its supporters on BBC Radio Gloucestershire this morning.
He told breakfast show presenter Mark Cummings: “There are a few clubs in the country that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and I think Gloucester is one of those.
“Kingsholm is, from an opposing team’s perspective, a special place. The passion of the fans is very clear as soon as you turn up.”
He added: “It’s a very exciting stadium and a very exciting group of supporters I think.”
He said that he had good and bad experiences when playing at Gloucester, saying: “You’re quickly made aware when you’re doing something wrong.”
He said his worst experience at Kingsholm came early in his career when he was with Wasps.
He said: “I was on the bench actually and I remember warming up. I don’t think I can repeat what was said to me but I was very quickly made aware that I wasn’t from round here and I wasn’t welcome and I had better play well to earn some respect.”
He added that he was very excited to come to a place where rugby was “such a big deal”.
Skivington admitted that he did not know the area well, saying: “I’m relying on my sat nav, I’m not going to lie.”
But he said he was looking forward to exploring it and his young family would be relocating here from London.
He said he was looking to focus on set pieces, saying there would be some shifts over time in that area of Gloucester’s game.
Skivington and the club’s chief executive Lance Bradley stressed their desire to get local players into the first team, through the academy system.
Bradley said he wanted players who were proud to play for the club.
When asked what his biggest strength was, Skivington said it was motivating people and bringing them together.
“I like to lead and get the best out of people,” he said.
