Gloucester may have gone down 26-24 at home to Bath in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Friday night but there was still plenty to excite their supporters at Kingsholm. That’s because the club announced that Willi Heinz, Franco Marais, Ed Slater, Ollie Thorley and Billy Twelvetrees have all signed new contracts to remain at the club – unveiling the news directly to fans during the half-time interval on Friday.

And to add to the excitement Gloucester’s junior club members were invited to apply to take part in the announcement, and five lucky youngsters were selected at random to take to the field at half-time alongside PA announcer Andy Wyman.

The signings were then announced as, one by one, the junior club members – Lacie Turner, Sam Tugwell, Noah Cuke, Lucy Bull and Archie Mackey – removed their zip tops to reveal a replica shirt confirming the name and number of the player they were representing.

This was accompanied by a video from each player to confirm they had re-signed being played on the stadium’s big screens, including a special message from club captain Willi Heinz from Japan.

Director of rugby David Humphreys is delighted to secure the services of some of his high-profile players.

“We talk regularly about the importance of player retention and keeping the core of our squad together on a long-term basis in addition to developing our own talent through the academy,” said Humphreys.

“All five of these players are key members of our first team squad and, to do some of our business early, is indicative of our long-term planning and determination to build on the progress we have made in the last couple of seasons.”

Willi Heinz

Currently on Rugby World Cup duty with England in Japan, the experienced scrum-half joined Gloucester ahead of the 2015/16 season from the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

2019-20 will be Heinz’s third as club captain, a measure of how highly regarded he is by his team-mates and the coaching staff, and his consistently high performances at club level have seen him earn international recognition.

Franco Marais

27-year-old hooker Marais joined Gloucester from Super Rugby’s Sharks ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Capped by South Africa at U20 and A level, he provided real competition for places in the hooker position as he made 19 first team appearances in his first season at Kingsholm, including 16 in the Gallagher Premiership.

Ed Slater

When Ed Slater joined Gloucester in the summer of 2017, the Cherry and Whites were counting on him to become a key figure in their forward pack, an experienced individual to lead from the front.

The 31-year-old has delivered that and more besides, making 55 first team appearances to date and skippering the side on a regular basis.

Ollie Thorley

Thorley’s talents have long been known about at Gloucester. But the past two seasons have seen him earn wider recognition.

He scored 10 tries in 15 appearances in 2017-18, but 2018-19 proved to be a memorable one for Thorley as he was called up to train with England, was named Premiership Player of the Month for December, was voted the club’s Young Player of the Season, the RPA Player’s Young Player of the Season and won Citizen Try of the Season at the Gallagher Premiership End of Season Awards.

Billy Twelvetrees

Billy Twelvetrees joined Gloucester from Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2012-13 season, and has gone on to become a fixture in the Gloucester back line.

He skippered the side in 2014-15 and 2015-16 and is closing in on 200 senior appearances for the club, testimony to his consistency and durability. He has been capped 19 times by England also represented the British and Irish Lions.