Exeter revival shows what's possible - Skivington

Exeter's transformation from a struggling side near the bottom of the table last season to play-off contenders this term is something Gloucester can learn from, believes head coach George Skivington.

The Chiefs travel to Kingsholm on Sunday looking for a win to further strengthen their grip on fourth in the table, having suffered a record 79-17 loss in the same fixture almost a year ago while enduring their worst campaign in the top flight since 2010.

Gloucester go into the game under similar circumstances to Exeter 12 months ago, sitting eighth in the table with just two league wins all season.

"Their season last year was pretty much our season this year," Skivington told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"What they've done well and what Rob's [Baxter director of rugby] done well is anchored back down into what their DNA is."

Gloucester's 13-try thrashing of Exeter in May last year was the Chiefs' biggest loss ever in the Prem and led to coaching changes which included Baxter returning to a direct coaching role.

The Cherry and Whites have similarly restructured their leadership team over the past few months, bringing in former Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd above Skivington.

Further coaching changes have also been confirmed for 2026-27 in recent days, with Brett Deacon and Joel Tompkins joining the staff, Trevor Woodman leaving and Dom Waldouck moving into a newly created academy role.

Skivington said they have been trying to do similar soul-searching at Gloucester as Exeter did over the summer.

"You've got to know what you stand for and we've been very honest in the building. We've probably tried to continue on from last year and for whatever reason we haven't delivered that and we're all having very good, strong conversations about what we are, who we are and what we should be going after," Skivington said.

"We're doing our best to get after some of that now but certainly Exeter's season last year is a good example of having a good look at yourselves and finding what it is you actually want to be and lean into.

"They've done a very good job this season of going after that."

Gloucester were comfortably beaten 53-12 at neighbours Bristol last Friday and not for the first time in this campaign, a lacklustre start was much to blame.

They have conceded 23 tries in the first 20 minutes of matches this season - more than any other team in the Prem and five more than bottom-of-the-table Newcastle.

Against Bristol, Gloucester conceded three in the first 16 minutes from the hosts' first three visits to their 22, as they did against Leicester last month when they were 22-0 down after the first quarter.

Skivington said his side are aware they are "really poor" starting games but have yet to find the root cause.

"It's something we've talked a lot about; we've really tried training a bit faster, you talk to the boys about preparation. I wish I knew exactly why it is, but we're certainly doing our best to try different things to correct it," Skivington said.

"That's something where if we could get hold of the start of a game, we'd certainly do a lot better."