Tom Savage named Gloucester captain

Gloucester Rugby have confirmed that Tom Savage will succeed Jim Hamilton as the club’s new captain for the upcoming season.
Set to embark upon his third full season with the club, Savage’s development from triallist to first team regular has been nothing short of meteoric.
Having earned a contract ahead of the 2011-12 season, Savage has quickly established himself as a first team regular, whether playing in the second row or on the blindside flank.
Last season saw him start 20 of Gloucester’s 22 Aviva Premiership fixtures, feature as a replacement in the other two, and he captained the side in the final two matches.
He said: “It’s a huge honour and I was absolutely delighted when Nigel asked me. Gloucester Rugby is a special club, one with a long, proud history and it’s a privilege to be asked to captain the side.
“When I first started training with the team just over three years ago, I never imagined that I would one day be captain. However, I am now determined to take on the role with genuine pride and commitment.
“I’m fortunate that the squad contains so many quality players and, crucially, so many experienced individuals. Their input will be incredibly important to me.
“I had a taste of captaining the team last season and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  We’ve had a great preseason and I’m now really looking forward to the season that lies ahead.”
Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “Since my arrival at the club, I’ve been so impressed with the work rate he puts in on and off the field, and the respect his team mates have for him. His work ethic and commitment are second to none.
“The story of how he came to join Gloucester (Savage was working at Hartpury in the summer of 2011 and asked for a trial), speaks volumes of the man and his character.
“He never plays at less than 100%, and it’s vital our captain displays and represents the qualities and values of our whole team. He’s going to be a fine leader for the team.”