Lloyd Evans will make his first Gallagher Premiership start of the season as Gloucester make four changes to their starting line-up for tomorrow’s trip to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.

Evans has worn the number 10 shirt in both the Premiership Rugby Cup and Heineken Champions Cup so far this season and featured in the club’s last two Premiership outings.

Evans’ inclusion, with Danny Cipriani named among the replacements, is one of four changes to the Gloucester team that started against Sale Sharks last Friday. The other change in the backs sees Louis Rees-Zammit return on the wing.

Up front, Alex Craig comes into the second row for Ed Slater who is named among the replacements and Lewis Ludlow is named at openside flanker with Ruan Ackermann moving across to number eight.

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann acknowledged that Wasps have performed well recently following a change in their coaching set-up.

“They’ve had a change of voice and maybe a few strategies, their players obviously seem a bit happier,” said Ackermann. “But, ultimately, it’s the results that count and they’ve had two good victories and will be a confident side.

“If you look at the team that they can put out, they’ve always had the talent. So, it’s going to be a massive challenge, much bigger than when we played them earlier in the season.

“They want to keep their momentum and we desperately want to change ours and get a victory. They’re two teams that are going to fight for very scrap.”

Gloucester:
15. Tom Marshall
14. Louis Rees-Zammit
13. Billy Twelvetrees
12. Mark Atkinson
11. Ollie Thorley
10. Lloyd Evans
9. Callum Braley
1. Josh Hohneck
2. Franco Marais
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Alex Craig
5. Franco Mostert (capt)
6. Jake Polledri
7. Lewis Ludlow
8. Ruan Ackermann.
Replacements:
16. Henry Walker, 17. Alex Seville, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Aaron Hinkley, 21. Charlie Chapman, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Tom Seabrook. Unavailable for selection: Freddie Clarke, Ruan Dreyer, James Hanson, Chris Harris, Willi Heinz, Val Rapava-Ruskin, Charlie Sharples, Joe Simpson, Owen Williams, Jason Woodward.

Meanwhile, Gloucester’s planning for next season continues with the news that Australian flanker Jordy Reid will join the club this summer from Ealing Trailfinders who, behind Newcastle Falcons, have been the standout team in the Championship over the last few seasons.

The Sydney-born flanker joined Ealing ahead of the 2018/19 season from Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels, where he played 41 times having made his debut against the Waratahs in March 2013.

Reid played against the British and Irish Lions in 2013, and his best season with the Rebels came in 2016 when he played in 15 of their Super Rugby matches.

Renowned as a powerful ball carrier and committed defender who excels at the breakdown, Reid has proved to be a standout player in the Greene King IPA Championship and Gloucester director of rugby - David Humphreys - has no doubt that he can make an impact at Premiership level.

“With Jaco Kriel returning to South Africa and Aaron Hinkley choosing to move on, we have been looking for a certain type of player who can bring something different to our back-row options,” Humphreys said.

“Jordy has been one of the standout players in the Championship over the past couple of seasons and, having watched him play for Ealing this season, I believe the Gloucester Rugby supporters will love his style of play.

“Competition at the breakdown has been a huge part of this season’s Premiership and Jordy’s physical presence will be a point of difference. He played Super Rugby with James Hanson and Jason Woodward, who have both spoken very highly of him as a player and believe he will make a difference at the club.”

Gloucester have also confirmed that versatile back row forward Freddie Clarke has become the latest player to extend his stay in Cherry and White, with the news that he has signed a new contract.

Clarke has become something of a fixture in the Gloucester first team squad since making his debut in the 2016/17 season.

Capable of playing in the second row as well as at number eight and flanker, Clarke initially made his senior breakthrough with London Scottish in the Greene King IPA Championship having graduated from Bath University.

His form with the Exiles caught the eye and he moved to Kingsholm ahead of the 2016/17 season, making his first senior appearance as a replacement in the European Rugby Challenge Cup against Benetton Rugby in October 2016.

He has since gone on to make 79 senior appearances and has developed into an integral part of the Gloucester squad.

"Freddie has very much made the most of his opportunity here at Gloucester Rugby,” said david Humphreys. “He has worked really hard to develop all aspects of his game, and this continued development has been reflected in his regular selection in Premiership and in European fixtures.

"Back row has become a really competitive position at Gloucester Rugby, with real strength in depth, but Freddie’s skillset and work rate complement the style of play we are continuing to develop under Johan and the coaching team.

"His ability to play a number of positions in the pack is another positive and Freddie will continue to play a key role in the playing squad, on and off the pitch, over the next few seasons."

Clarke himself is delighted to be extending his career with Gloucester and helping the team to achieve further success.

"I’m very happy to be staying,” he said. “Since I arrived back in 2016, I’ve loved every minute of my time here. Training and playing week in, week out with world-class players has helped me to improve so much as a player and I feel that I’m still getting better.

"But, while I’m pleased to be progressing as an individual, the most important thing is how I contribute to the overall squad effort. I genuinely feel that we’re going places as a group and I hope to play my part in helping Gloucester Rugby to achieve success in the not too distant future."