Skivington backing for more one-club players

GEORGE Skivington believes the tighter finances in the Premiership will lead to more one-club players having reduced the threat of poaching.

- By PAUL REES

Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Alex Goode are all retiring at the end of the season having started their careers in the 2000s and not changed clubs, while Joe Marler quit playing at the end of November after 15 years with Harlequins.

"The game became transient before Covid but that reset the button financially for clubs," said Skivington, Gloucester's director of rugby.

"There was an element of whoever pays the most, people go to and there will always be a bit of that if someone gets an offer they cannot refuse.

"But there has been a lot less movement of homegrown players in the last few years. I would like to think we are getting back to some of the rugby ethos that the club that brings you through, and looks after you, you ultimately want to pay back and be a part of.

"I hope that the young crop we have invested in and are now coming through for us really well will stay together and be the Gloucester team for another 10 years. I do not see why that is not doable.