Gloucester Rugby host Bath Rugby on Friday night at Kingsholm in Round Four of the 2026/27 Gallagher PREM

George Skivington believes his resurgent Gloucester Rugby side will have no problems reaching the emotional levels needed to beat Bath Rugby in a game he labelled the 'biggest game of the season.'

Gloucester mined the emotional depths on Friday to earn a 36-36 draw with back-to-back defending European champions Bordeaux Begles on Friday night, in the Champions Cup, but the Gloucester head coach is confident his side have got plenty in the bank for the West Country derby on Friday night.

Skivington said: “We're only four games into the season, so I think from that point of view, we know we've got a block of six.

“We’ve looked after the boys the way we train to make sure we're there come Friday, but, look, it's obviously the biggest game of the season at home, a derby, at Kingsholm.

“We know what the stakes are emotionally and historically, and for the league position right now.”

Gloucester head into Round Four in the Gallagher PREM sitting top of the table, but it is agonisingly tight, with fifth-place Bath just a point behind, meaning the winner on Friday night will likely finish the weekend top of the pile.

These lofty positions are not ones the Cherry and Whites have been familiar with in recent years, but the club continue to set positive milestones, winning 45-24 away at Exeter, nilling Harlequins, and then running Bordeaux to the wire last weekend. But in a positive sign, Skivington is still not happy with where his side are.

Reflecting on the draw with Bordeaux, Skivington said: “I think it was a statement. What we asked the boys to do, they did.

“I feel like we had moments to win it, but I think it was a massive night; it was a great atmosphere here at Kingsholm. Bordeaux are the best of the best, so we've got to be pleased with the way we went toe-to-toe and probably either team could have won it at the end. It was a big night, big night for our players, and they left it all out there.”

The injury news is mixed for Gloucester heading into the derby, with first choice tighthead prop Afo Fasogbon likely to return after missing the Bordeaux game, having suffered a knock in the 38-31 defeat away at Leicester Tigers last weekend.

But winger Ben Loader came off with a hamstring injury against UBB, which at the time Skivington described as ‘significant.’

He said: “‘It was a hamstring issue. He has previous with hamstrings, so I'm not too hopeful, but let's see.”

The good news is Gloucester have Ollie Thorley, Josh Hathaway and Junior Denny waiting in the wings to come into the starting side should Loader face a spell on the sidelines.

There is also concern around club captain Dewi Lake, who came off the field for a HIA on Friday.