Club profile: Gloucester

New league signing Henry Paul will add pace behind the scrum

A decade ago Kingsholm was traditionally synonymous with the uncompromising art of the typically British maul in the mud.

Ten years on, with Philippe Saint-Andre at the helm, Gloucester's past is just that.

The Frenchman has recruited heavily from his homeland, and although the cornerstone of the pack remains undeniably Gloucester bred, Phil Vickery may have to brush up on his languages for his first captain's team talk of the season.

English, Fijian, French, Italian and Argentine, to name a few, will combine in an effort to improve on last year's erratic effort.

And come the conclusion of Bradford's rugby league season, the cherry and whites will be joined by Henry Paul, union's most controversial summer signing.

Where the code crosser plays remains to be seen, but fitting him in is the least of Saint-Andre's problems.

After finishing seventh in the Premiership last year, few eyebrows would have been raised if the former French international had waved adieu to the west country and moved on, either by choice or force.

Former All Black lock Ian Jones opted for the former, whilst the suspicion remains that Jason Little, the ex-Australian centre, fell into the latter category through dint of failing to see eye-to-eye with his coach.

Kingsley Jones, last season's captain, has also moved on, the highest profile name in an exodus to nearby Worcester.

Saint-Andre has however remained and, backed by Tom Walkinshaw's millions, he now has a host of new faces, particularly in the backs, to accommodate in the team.

The target is to engender a winning spirit more in line with the efforts of two years ago when the club finished third in the league.

Last year's disappointing league campaign was offset by a place in the European Cup semi-finals.

However without the distraction of top level European rugby this year, the Kingsholm faithful will be hoping for a strong league showing.

Failure will result in the guillotine dropping on Saint-Andre and will leave the Shed pining for mud, mauls and memories.

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Facts and figures

Ground: Kingsholm
Coach: Philippe Saint-Andre
Captain: Phil Vickery
Last season: Seventh

Players in: Diego Albanese (Grenoble), Brian Lima (Stade Francais), Daren O' Leary (Harlequins), Henry Paul (Bradford Bulls), Koli Sewabu (Begles-Bordeaux), Alessandro Stoica (Narbonne).

Players out: Ian Jones (retired), Kingsley Jones (Worcester), Jason Little (Bristol), Elton Moncrieff (Worcester), Steve Ojomoh (Parma), Chris Yates (Worcester).