Gloucester announce team to face Castres

January 18, 2024
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Ultimate Rugby

Santi Carreras returns to the Gloucester Rugby starting XV after being rested against Edinburgh last weekend.

He's one of four changes in the Cherry & Whites starting side to take on Castres tomorrow evening.

Carreras replaces Louis Rees-Zammit at full back, after the Welshman was released from his contract earlier this week to pursue a career in American football.

That's the only change in the back-line, with Jonny May and Ollie Thorley on the wings again, Seb Atkinson and Chris Harris in the centre and Caolan Englefield and Adam Hastings the starting half-backs.

Hastings earned himself a re-call to the Scotland squad for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations earlier this week.

In the forwards, Jamal Ford-Robinson keeps his place at loosehead. He's joined by George McGuigan and Fraser Balmain in the front row.

McGuigan replaces Seb Blake, who drops to the bench, and Balmain replaces Kirill Gotovtsev.

Freddie Clarke and Matias Alemanno continue their partnership at lock, with Jack Clement, Ruan Ackermann and Zach Mercer forming the back row.

Ackermann will captain the side.

On the bench, there is a welcome return for Fijian, Albert Tuisue, from injury.

Gloucester Rugby Academy's Josh Hathaway is set for his European debut from the replacements.

They're joined in the wings by Seb Blake, Harry Elrington, Ciaran Knight, Lewis Ludlow, Stephen Varney and Max Llewellyn.