Billy wants to start Gloucester Rugby season off in style

BILLY Twelvetrees cannot wait to help Gloucester shake off the lingering hangover from the end of last season.

The new Gloucester recruit admits the fallout from the Bryan Redpath era was clear even for players at other clubs to see.

But now he is desperate to help the Cherry and Whites put it behind them once and for all.

Powerful playmaker Twelvetrees confirmed he swapped Leicester Tigers for Kingsholm to battle for more regular rugby in his preferred position of centre.

And with the new Premiership campaign around the corner, he backed new rugby director Nigel Davies to usher in a new reign of success.

The 23-year-old England Saxons cap said he chose a move to Gloucester to be a part of the team's expansive style of play.

When Redpath left before the end of last term, he admitted the odd nervous glance at what would happen next.

But he also asserts he need not have worried – because he knows Davies will propel Gloucester's dangerous backline into playing fast and incisive rugby.

The Chichester-born midfielder explained: "I wanted to play more rugby at centre and have the opportunity to play more regularly.

"Leicester's a great club and it always will be. Leaving Leicester was tough, and it helped me springboard to where I am now.

"But I wanted a new challenge, and the experience of playing alongside men like Mike Tindall hopefully will be invaluable.

"The way they want to play suits me, and the chance to play in a team that has that ambition, enthusiasm and culture was very exciting.

"I really bought into that, and I think it's important to have that stability and fan support.

"I'm loving it so far, and I've been learning a lot since I've been here."

Twelvetrees enjoyed his first action in Gloucester colours, a 33-22 pre-season defeat at Leinster last weekend.

Gloucester host Cardiff Blues this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) in a warm-up clash doubling as Nick Wood and Alex Brown's testimonial match.

Keen to help Gloucester move out of the shadow of last term, Twelvetrees said a couple of early Premiership victories will go a long way to helping the club carve a new niche.

He continued: "Everyone knew what was happening, everyone heard the news about it.

"But the question I'm sure everyone was asking was, 'What next?'

"But as soon as people knew it was Nigel I think that put a lot of minds at rest.

"He's a good coach that's worked at good clubs, and everyone was pretty excited when Nigel turned up, because of what he has done down at the Scarlets and the players they have had down there.

"Ben Morgan has come through down there, a lot of quality players have been developed down there, and everyone is very excited about what could happen at this club.

"So fingers crossed that comes through.

"It's important we have a good start to the season, to make up for what happened at the end of last year.

"There was a lot of frustration, and I just want to be a part of moving past that, and be part of what happens next.

"You could see it from an outsider's point of view or just watching it on TV, or speaking to some of the guys.

"They couldn't wait for this season to come about, to have the chance to put things right because of the way it ended last year.

"But just to be part of that is great.

"Coming in from the outside, from a different club, I can't wait to get started.

"And if I can be a part of helping the club and the squad move on from last year, that would be brilliant.

"There's new combinations, new coaches, and the first game of the season is home at Kingsholm, and the boys can't wait."