#2. RUAN ACKERMANN
Cherry and Whites’ head coach, George Skivington, has been advocating for Ackermann’s inclusion in the England team for months.
However, Skivington confirmed to Gloucestershire Live that the 27-year-old South African-born player, who has expressed his commitment to England but remains uncapped, will be unable to pursue his dream of playing in the World Cup due to an injury sustained during the Heineken Champions Cup in April.
Skivington said: “He hurt his knee away in La Rochelle so he has missed the last four or five weeks, whatever it has been.
“He will be back for next season but it is a decent injury, he has had some surgery, so he is another one on the rehab table but he will be alright, hopefully, come the start of next season.”
Notably, Ackermann led the Gallagher Premiership in ball carries, accumulating 243 carries throughout the season, surpassing his countryman Jasper Wiese of Leicester Tigers by 25 carries, who was recently named the Rugby Players’ Association player of the season.
