Gloucester kick off their 2018-19 Premiership Rugby Cup campaign at home to Wasps on Saturday (3pm) with ex-Dean Close pupil Lloyd Evans captaining a side that features the club’s best up and coming talent.

The matchday squad illustrates the good work done by the club’s academy in recent seasons as all of the back line, with the exception of Henry Purdy who returns on the wing after injury, have progressed through that pathway.

It’s a similar story in the pack where only hooker Todd Gleave, who will make his first competitive start for the club, hasn’t ‘graduated’ from the academy in recent seasons.

Among the replacements, Scotland international prop Kyle Traynor is named having joined the club this week on a short-term contract.

Head of Academy Richard Whiffin has taken charge of the team for this weekend’s game against Wasps and said that he and the squad are looking forward to it.

“The tournament over the last few years has provided a great development opportunity,” he said. “I’m pleased with the new structure, as we have a three-week block to work with which will give the players a few weeks together and help us to build a bit of team morale.

“We certainly see it as a massive development tool and an opportunity for our younger lads to wear the first team shirt and get out in front of that Kingsholm crowd.

“They’re super excited. There are five or six guys who will make their senior debut and for them, running out at Kingsholm in front of a big crowd, what better way to do it? We’ve got some senior guys who will help the group to gel so we’ve got a nice balance.

“In terms of the opposition, you never quite know what you’re going to get. Wasps in general like to play with the ball and get width in their game.

“They’re a team that can hurt you from anywhere. So we’ll have to have our wits about us defensively, but our DNA is to play, to see space and execute so that should make for an entertaining game.”

Gloucester: 15. Reece Dunn; 14. Alex Morgan, 13. Tom Seabrook, 12. Dom Coetzer, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Lloyd Evans (capt), 9. Ben Vellacott; 1. Olly Adkins, 2. Todd Gleave, 3. Ciaran Knight; 4. Callum Allen; 5. Alex Craig; 6. Cam Terry, 7. Aaron Hinkley, 8. Gareth Evans. Replacements: 16. Joe Mullis, 17. Kyle Traynor, 18. Jack Bartlett, 19. Harry Butler, 20. Louis Rees-Zammit, 21. Charlie Chapman, 22. Jack Reeves, 23. Jacob Morris