Gloucester Rugby team to take on Northampton Saints

December 22, 2023
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Ultimate Rugby

The Gloucester Rugby team to face Northampton Saints at Kingsholm in the Cherry & Whites' final home game of 2023 has been revealed.

There's good news for Gloucester fans, with the return of Adam Hastings and Ruan Ackermann from injury.

The front five is unchanged from the side that defeated Clermont 28-17 at Kingsholm in the challenge Cup last weekend, with Freddie Clarke and Matias Alemanno packing down behind the front row of Harry Elrington, Santi Socino and Fraser Balmain once more.

Socino bagged himself two tries against the French side.

Ackermann comes into the back row, where he joins Zach Mercer and captain, Lewis Ludlow.

Hastings comes in at fly-half alongside Stephen Varney, with Max Llewellyn and Chris Harris retaining their starting spots in midfield.

Last weekend's Player of the Match, Santi Carreras, moves to full-back to accommodate Hastings, and he's flanked by Ollie Thorley and Louis Rees-Zammit in the back three.

Jack Clement drops to the bench from the starting XV in the only change to the replacements from last week.

George McGuigan, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Kirill Gotovtsev and Cam Jordan are the other forwards in reserve, with Charlie Chapman, Seb Atkinson and Lloyd Evans covering the backs.