Gloucester have been relatively quiet on the recruitment front so far and are not expected to make big changes to their squad for next season.
Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson is the only confirmed new signing with a lot of the focus on retaining players but the club are still looking to bring in new faces.
“I think the secret for us now is to get consistency in the squad and there won’t be a lot of changes,” said Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann.
“We’ve got one or two players and positions we’re looking at at the moment but nothing is set in stone yet so at the right time David (Humphreys) and the media people will probably get that out if we can get it over the line.
“We’re happy with the squad and the progress of the squad. We’re happy with some of the academy guys that are going to push and come on.”
“Like I said there are one or two positions we’re still looking at but it’s not something at the moment we’re focusing too much on.”
Where are Gloucester likely to strengthen?
Gloucester have been linked with a number of props and this appears to be the priority.
Paddy McAllister is leaving at the end of the season to join Connacht and it looks unlikely that Gareth Denman will be offered a new deal.
Gloucester’s depth in the front row has been tested this season as Val Rapava Ruskin, McAllister, Denman and Ruan Dreyer have suffered long-term injuries with Fraser Balmain and Josh Hohneck taking on a heavy workload.
There has also been a reliance on the academy pair of Alex Seville and Ciaran Knight, who have both signed new contracts to step up to the senior squad next season.
If Gloucester are to catch Exeter and Saracens, having a depth of talent in the front row to call upon could be crucial.
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“We’re quite comfortable if we’ve got all our props available,” said Ackermann.
“If Dreyer is back, Ciaran Knight has really progressed and you’ve got Fraser, Hons (Hohneck) and Val (Rapava Ruskin) and then Alex Seville.
“It’s something we look at, who is available and what we can do about it.
“We can strengthen that area, maybe our depth there and then there’s one or two, maybe another back line player, we can see where we strengthen the squad but it’s all depending on the salary cap.”
Who could Gloucester sign?
Jamal Ford-Robinson
The latest prop to be linked with a move to Gloucester.
Ford-Robinson is currently playing for Coventry in the Championship on a loan deal from Northampton and his ability to play on both sides of the front row would make him an attractive acquisition.
According to The Rugby Paper, Gloucester are due to hold talks with Ford-Robinson this week but his former club Bristol are also interested.
A Leicester academy product, Ford-Robinson has also played for Cornish Pirates and joined Northampton from Bristol at the start of the 2017-18 season.
He also featured for England against the Barbarians in 2017.
Matt Mullan
The former England prop is available after leaving Wasps in January and it is thought that Gloucester have held talks with him.
Mullan hasn’t played though since February 2018 and he underwent knee surgery last May.
The 32-year-old could tick a lot of boxes for Gloucester with his experience that has seen him win 17 international caps, and his versatility could also be valuable as he can play at hooker as well as in his specialist position of loose-head prop.
Nicky Smith
Highly-rated Wales prop Smith has been linked with a move away from Ospreys at the end of the season with Gloucester among the clubs reportedly interested.
His future plans had been put on hold due to the uncertainty of the regional game in Wales but the collapse of the Ospreys-Scarlets merger increases the chances of him staying put.
Loose-head Smith has won 27 caps for Wales and has been a regular member of the squad during this year’s Six Nations, and would have to turn his back on his international career to join Gloucester.
Ellis Genge
This may be seen as a long shot but it is thought that Gloucester are monitoring Ellis Genge’s situation.
The loose-head prop, who made his first Six Nations start for England against Italy last weekend, is understood to be keen on a return to the South West but he still has another year to run on his contract at Leicester after this season.
Genge has previously been linked with a return to hometown club Bristol but he knows Gloucestershire well having studied at Hartpury College, captaining their victorious team in the AASE league, and is likely to be open to the move.
If the Cherry and Whites were able to land the 24-year-old it would be seen as a massive coup but they might have to wait another year. Watch this space.
What other areas of the squad could Gloucester strengthen?
Ackermann hinted that Gloucester could also sign another backline player and if there is one position where it could be argued they are short, it is outside centre.
This has been particularly highlighted by the injury to Henry Trinder as he is the only player in the squad who could be seen as an out-and-out 13 although there are plenty of others who can play there with Billy Twelvetrees making the shirt his own at the moment.
Gloucester are well stocked in the back three, the scrum-half positions are filled and they have two international fly-halves in Danny Cipriani and Owen Williams.
In the pack, Gloucester have struggled with a shortage at hooker at times this season and had to bring South African Jaco Visagie in on a short-term loan but they may go with what they’ve got with Henry Walker officially stepping up from the academy next season.
The expected departure of Tom Savage to Japan could be covered by the promotion of another academy player in Alex Craig, while they might look to add another young up-and-coming type lock for depth in a position where they are currently over-flowing with talent.
