Gloucester’s forwards coach Brett Deacon has set out to make the team tougher after their perfect start to the Premiership season, with the club currently leading the table after two games. The Gloucester pack’s physicality has been a defining feature in their big wins over Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins, earning maximum points and a strong statement early on.
Deacon, who joined Gloucester in April after a long spell at Leicester Tigers, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he identified areas where the team needed to become harder and more resilient. “I’ve been at Leicester for a long time and that club has been renowned for the physicality and the honest part of the game,” he said. “When I signed here last year, I had a close eye on what they look like in games and I thought a lot of things need to change. They need to be tougher, harder.”
Gloucester began the campaign with a 45-24 win away at Exeter before inflicting a 48-0 defeat on Harlequins at Kingsholm. Those results put the club top of the Premiership table with ten points from two matches, a strong turnaround from last season when they finished eighth.
Deacon credited a focus on simplicity and fundamentals for the team’s strong start. “I think we’ve gone after really simple things,” he said. “The classic sayings around hard work and those things – but that’s what we have done. We’ve focused on the fundamentals of the game. We’ve set a really high standard.”
The Gloucester squad has seen notable additions in the summer, with Wales internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake joining from the Ospreys. Lake has been named captain and brings leadership to the forward pack alongside Springbok Jean Kleyn, a World Cup winner who also arrived ahead of the new season.
Despite the strong start, Deacon remains cautious about the challenges ahead. “We’ve been very conscious of the start and how that’s looked but when we’ve reviewed the game, there’s so much to improve on,” he said. “It’s important to improve because if you stand still, especially in this league, it’s a brutal league, you’ll end up on a losing streak rather than a winning streak.”
Deacon’s first return to Leicester Tigers comes on Friday, as Gloucester travel to face his former club in the Slater Cup. The match will test how far Gloucester’s physical style and improved performance have come under his guidance.
Gloucester’s forward play has been noticeably more aggressive and efficient this season, with the coaching staff focusing on basics like hard work and discipline. Deacon’s approach appears to be reshaping the team’s identity, aiming for consistency in a league known for its tough competition.
The club’s recruitment drive and coaching changes reflect a clear intention to climb higher than last season’s eighth-place finish. Deacon’s role in toughening up Gloucester’s forwards and instilling a straightforward style of play is already visible in their results and performances.
As Gloucester prepare for their next Premiership fixture, Deacon’s emphasis on strength and simplicity will be under scrutiny. The team’s ability to maintain their early momentum will depend on how well they continue to adapt and improve in the weeks ahead.
According to Yahoo Sports.
