As the new season approaches, Gloucester Rugby has announced Wales international Dewi Lake as their captain for the 2026/27 campaign. Lake, an accomplished hooker who recently joined from the Ospreys, steps into the role previously held by Tomos Williams who has moved to Saracens. Lake is not unfamiliar with leadership, having captained Wales 22 times and co-captained during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
In the wake of Williams' departure, Gloucester had several strong candidates for the captaincy, including former captain Lewis Ludlow and previous vice-captain Arthur Clark. However, head coach George Skivington opted for Lake, citing his extensive leadership experience as a decisive factor.
"Dewi's leadership experience is there for everyone to see,"
Skivington highlighted the thorough process behind this appointment, emphasizing the importance of the team spending time together before finalizing their decision. The leadership team's choice was influenced by both player input and the coaches' assessments, aiming to identify the best fit to lead the team into the future.
"It was important for us to wait until the whole group had a few weeks in the building together under their belt before making a decision. The leadership process included input from the entire playing group, as well as our own assessment of who was best placed to lead this team forward through this season and beyond."
Lake expressed his gratitude and excitement about his new role at Gloucester. He acknowledged the rich history of the club and the caliber of his teammates, which he considered an honor to lead.
Dewi Lake's role as captain is a significant storyline as Gloucester looks to start strong against the Exeter Chiefs in their season opener. His leadership skills, honed on the international stage, will now be pivotal at Kingsholm.
Further strengthening the leadership team, Gloucester has confirmed Jac Morgan and Seb Atkinson as vice-captains for the upcoming season. Like Lake, Morgan also transitions from the Ospreys, immediately stepping into a leadership role, while Atkinson continues in the same capacity as the previous season.
In conclusion, Gloucester Rugby's decision to appoint Dewi Lake as captain is a strategic move aimed at leveraging his extensive leadership experience to forge a successful path in the upcoming season. Supported by a robust leadership group, Gloucester is poised to tackle the challenges ahead with renewed vigor and strategic insight.
