A new team will grace the Gloucestershire rugby sporting map this season.

Gloucester Barbarians will compete in the GRFU Under-17 league in 2019/2020.

The team is an amalgamation of players from Widden Old Boys and Longlevens and has been formed because neither club individually have sufficient players in their under-17 squads to make an impact in the GRFU league in the coming campaign.

Ian Lloyd, who is manager of Widden Old Boys Under-17s and is co-manager of Gloucester Barbarians, said that the new team have a combined squad of some 23-25 players.

The new venture sees two local rugby teams working together to keep youth players in the game and Lloyd added: “At under-16s level, clubs start to shed players – GCSEs, other diversions, big step into adult game – so at under-17s level there are often insufficient numbers as boys fragment into A-levels, apprenticeships etc.”

There are of course challenges with a new venture such as this – two squads playing together who were previously fierce opponents being the obvious one – but there are also many positives.

“A bigger squad means fewer cancelled games, broadens players’ – and coaches’ – experience, and retains players in the game longer so that they transition into the adult club game with their home clubs,” explained Lloyd.

Clubs in the GRFU Under-17 League include Hucclecote, Lydney, Minchinhampton and Cheltenham Saracens so there will be plenty of stern tests ahead for the newly formed Gloucester Barbarians but they are tests that they are looking forward to.

“The model has been used elsewhere before and serves as a template for other clubs in future to consider playing together with a ‘third identity’,” said Lloyd of the new team.

“The side look forward to playing in this league.”

And it’s not just league games that the players at Gloucester Barbarians are looking forward to because they are heading to Gibraltar in April for an end of season tour which will be a great experience for all concerned.