Gloucester Rugby director of rugby George Skivington has defended the club’s recent signings of Wales forwards Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake from Ospreys, insisting he wants Welsh rugby to thrive despite the cross-border player transfers.

The departures of Wales’ co-captains from Ospreys come amid a period of significant upheaval in the professional game in Wales, as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to reduce the number of professional men’s clubs from four to three by 2027. These moves have left regions facing uncertainty, with players increasingly considering moves to the English Premiership for stability and competitive rugby opportunities.

Skivington on the Signings

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Skivington emphasized that Gloucester’s intentions are professional and aligned with player welfare:

“I don’t think there’s any guilt, because I don’t think the team that are taking Tommy feel any guilt towards us. What I do feel, and I believe everybody in the rugby community wants, is to see Welsh rugby thrive. There’s a brilliant history of rugby in Wales and the Principality Stadium is absolutely awesome on international days. I’d love to see Welsh rugby getting back to being where it was before, but these guys want to play competitive rugby, and right now the Premiership offers that week in, week out.”

Skivington highlighted that Morgan and Lake made the move for career development and the chance to play consistent high-level Premiership Rugby, adding that Gloucester’s culture and values were a major draw for the pair.

“They both could have gone for various Premiership clubs, but I think the attraction of Gloucester is that they are both very honest, hardworking blokes and they’re really excited about coming.”

Context: Welsh Rugby Uncertainty

The moves by Morgan and Lake are part of a wider exodus of top Welsh players, driven by the uncertainty surrounding the future of Ospreys and other regions. Skivington stressed the importance of allowing players to make decisions that benefit their careers while hoping that Welsh rugby stabilizes over the coming years.

He reflected on the proud traditions of Welsh rugby:

“I remember days in the Heineken Cup where the Welsh teams were ferocious and it was a real tough day to go down there and play. So I think everybody wants Welsh rugby to get aligned and push on.”

Gloucester’s Position

The Cherry and Whites are also facing their own key departures, with captain Tomos Williams set to leave at the end of the season. The signings of Morgan and Lake are seen as vital to maintaining squad strength and competitiveness ahead of the 2026 Premiership season.

Skivington believes the Welsh duo will integrate seamlessly into the Kingsholm squad, bringing honesty, work ethic, and excitement to Gloucester’s pack.