George Skivington has named Gloucester Rugby’s matchday 23 to host Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm on Friday in Round 15 of the Gallagher Premiership. (Kick-off 5:30 pm)

There are 12 changes to the starting 15 from the side that went to Harlequins last week with Lewis Ludlow returning to take the captaincy.

Also returning are the Cherry and Whites’ two international wingers with both Jonny May and Louis Rees-Zammit coming back from Six Nations duty to start out wide. The international experience in the back three continues with Santiago Carreras taking the 15 shirt.

Billy Twelvetrees and Mark Atkinson will link up in the midfield with Willi Heinz also returning to the back line to start at scrum half. George Barton keeps the 10 shirt and is the only consistency in the backs from the last fixture.

In the forwards, Val Rapava-Ruskin and Fraser Balmain keep their starting places in the front row and are joined by Henry Walker who starts at hooker. Ed Slater and Matias Alemanno return at second row with the back row combination of Jordy Reid, Ruan Ackermann and Lewis Ludlow also back in action.

Gloucester Rugby have opted for a six-two split on the bench with Santiago Socino, Alex Seville, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Freddie Clarke, Ben Morgan and Jack Clement being named as replacements with Charlie Chapman and Charlie Sharples the two backs on the bench.

George Barton is looking forward to the fixture.

“Training is going really well. We’ve learnt loads throughout the week and we’ve been getting our processes in place and the team are really excited for it. You can’t really ask for anything more. Friday night lights at Kingsholm against Exeter, it’s what you aspire to do.

“For me personally, I can’t wait. It’s an exciting time for the whole team and to be able to get out there and rip into it. Hopefully we can come away with the result.”

Gloucester Rugby

15. Santiago Carreras

14. Louis Rees-Zammit *

13. Billy Twelvetrees

12. Mark Atkinson

11. Jonny May *

10. George Barton *

9. Willi Heinz

1. Val Rapava-Ruskin

2. Henry Walker *

3. Fraser Balmain

4. Ed Slater

5. Matias Alemanno

6. Jordy Reid

7. Lewis Ludlow (c) *

8. Ruan Ackermann

16. Santiago Socino

17. Alex Seville *

18. Jamal Ford-Robinson

19. Freddie Clarke *

20. Ben Morgan

21. Jack Clement *

22. Charlie Chapman *

23. Charlie Sharples *

*Denotes Academy player or graduate from the Gloucester Rugby Academy

Click here to see the players who are unavailable for this fixture.

Gloucester Rugby name team to host Exeter Chiefs

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