31 - 25

51 - 12

31 - 24

WOMENS

83 - 0

WOMENS

42 - 10

34 - 6

41 - 44

36 - 35

53 - 13

47 - 31

33 - 13

37 - 5

WOMENS

35 - 22

0 - 19

WOMENS

22 - 16

28 - 14

38 - 3

WOMENS

42 - 33

45 - 26

48 - 7

15 - 24

30 - 24

8 - 8

WOMENS

36 - 30

37 - 24

Today

21:05

Today

21:05

Today

23:35

Tomorrow

10:00

Gallagher Premiership

Gloucester swiftly replace Fraser Balmain with ex-England U20 prop

By Neil Fissler

108 days ago

Ex-England U20s prop Alfie Petch (Getty Images)

Gloucester have moved for Biarritz tighthead Alfie Petch to fill the gap in their squad that will be left by Fraser Balmain’s departure for former Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens later this summer. RugbyPass exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Saracens boss Mark McCall is ready to make the former Leicester Tigers man Balmain his sixth signing ahead of next season.

We now understand that the Cherry and Whites, who finished ninth in the 10-team 2023/24 Premiership after losing 13 of their 18 games, are poised to land the 24-year-old.

Educated at Ivybridge Community College near Plymouth, Petch started his career with the same Cornish club, Bude, as Phil Vickery, the 2003 England World Cup winner and British and Irish Lions tourist.

Damian de Allende talks about the plaudits heaped on him by his teammates

The former England U20 prop progressed into the Exeter Chiefs academy, making seven first-team appearances, and had a lengthy loan spell with Cornish Pirates to gain valuable experience before moving to Northampton Saints.

Petch moved to the East Midlands with Chiefs teammate Aaron Hinkley in May 2022 and made 21 appearances in his only campaign at Franklin’s Gardens before switching to Biarritz, a surfer’s paradise on France’s Basque coast.

He played 14 games for the Pro D2 outfit. However, despite performing well, it was announced that he would be leaving when his contract ran out and was seeking a return to the Premiership as soon as possible.

Petch will become George Skivington’s fourth new signing ahead of next season, following Welsh stars Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe, and former England international Christian Wade into Kingsholm.

Loosehead Harry Elrington, wingers Jonny May and Alex Hearle, fly-half Adam Hastings, and hookers Adam McBurney and Santi Socino are all on their way out of the club.

Gloucester confirmed later on Wednesday that they have indeed signed Petch. Click here to read what Skivington had to say about the deal

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Scott Baldwin: 'Mindset is a powerful thing'

The Wales hooker has taken up his first head coach role with his home town club, Bridgend, and he likes to think he's learnt from the best

LONG READ

Why aren't New Zealand's mighty teams scoring like they used to?

No longer are the All Blacks and Black Ferns blowing teams away with ruthless attack.

LONG READ

Vannes the man: Mako Vunipola already a cult-hero in France

The Brittany club has swiftly embraced the ex-England prop in their debut Top 14 campaign.

Comments on RugbyPass

Another 11 minutes ago

How the All Blacks are enduring pain now in readiness for 2027 RWC crusade

I think the forwards have been better than you describe but the problem has been well documented about getting the same return in the final 20 minutes. I think having players like Tuipolutu return gives more confidence towards using the bench. I also would like to see the return of Taukei’aho whose powerful influence has been missed at times.

The loose forward combination includes 2 world class performers now and one gap to fill, assuming Sam Cane’s time is up. The third spot loosie selection and how the unit combines is the key to the ABs being successful in the future.

France and Ireland will be tough but saying it and actually delivering on that promise are two different things in sport. If they turn up, the ABs will need to be ready for them - bring it on!

41 Go to comments

BC 17 minutes ago

‘It shows the heart the girls have’: Charge down secures dramatic draw for Dutch

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the Dutch and thought they were a bit unlucky not to come away with the win. A bit better game management at the end and they would have done. I expected it to be a straightforward win for Samoa. I confess to my ignorance of Dutch rugby.

Interesting point about time for a conversion. A similar thing happened to Holly Aitcheson against the BFs. The team celebrated so long over the tries that she was hurried into her conversion attempts. Celebrate by all means but get the ball straightaway to the kicker so she can prepare.

The question now is - am I going to stay up late for the Canada/France match tomorrow which I think could be the game of WXV1 this year. With Canada's recent form I cannot call it - home advantage might sway it.

1 Go to comments

Another 17 minutes ago

How the All Blacks are enduring pain now in readiness for 2027 RWC crusade

Evolution not revolution. The All Blacks need to keep evolving through selection and strategies to keep an upwards curve. That is all I require, as a fan. They will make mistakes and even be beaten by better teams on the day - but they need to keep improving. Ultimately, NZ still produces enough World Class talent (and Sititi is that, should we have any doubt about this) to be able to win the World Cup - but they have to be the smartest team around to do so, these days.

I think the team is starting to ‘track’ - and hopefully the inclusion of returning players like Blackadder, Roigard, Love, Perefeta, Takei’aho (when will he return?) will bolster the end of year squad. Maybe next year, a few more faces may re-emerge like Leicester Fainga’anuku, Shannon Frizell, Ritchie Mu’unga and possibly the Otago lock, Fabien Holland.

41 Go to comments

Teddy 33 minutes ago

Everyone knows the Springboks' ranking was puffed up

It's full bragging rights. We beat the boks.

Why does rugby and Ireland make you rant about the blood pump in a cock?

Does it get you going or is it just you that a 'semi' is beyond?

Erectile dysfunction would be a common side effect of steroid abuse...

308 Go to comments

BC 35 minutes ago

Wales get WXV humbling by Australia in Cape Town

You may be right, whichever they have great difficulty in scoring points and when they do it is often a one metre dive over the line from a forward or from a lineout maul, not from a passing movement. I certainly don't include Jaz Joyce in my comments but she rarely gets the ball. Unless they can put points on the board they will continue to struggle. I sometimes think they should kick penalties when there is a good chance of adding 3 points to give them some momentum, but that would take away one of their best attacking options, the maul. They seem to be falling behind the other 6N teams. The Italy match next week might tell us more.

5 Go to comments