Gloucester Rugby have announced the signing of centre Max Llewellyn, who will arrive at Kingsholm this summer ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Llewellyn, who qualifies for both Wales and England, moves to the Cherry & Whites from United Rugby Championship side Cardiff Rugby, where he has made 38 appearances, scoring five tries.
The 24-year-old also spent time with Cardiff RFC in the Welsh Premiership and represented Wales U20s 14 times between 2018 and 2019.
At 6’5’’ and 105kg, Llewellyn brings a significant physical presence into Gloucester’s midfield options.
Max comes from impressive rugby stock, his father, Gareth Llewellyn, having won 92 caps for Wales.
Gloucester Rugby Head Coach, George Skivington, says the young centre is a welcome addition to the squad.
“Max is a young player that has a huge amount of potential and we’re excited about him seeing him in Cherry & White. He’s been really impressive for Cardiff over the last couple of seasons and we know he’s relishing the prospect of challenging himself in the Gallagher Premiership.
“He’s obviously a big lad and he enjoys that physical side of the game but that’s not the only string to his bow.
“Max will have some experienced Premiership backs to learn from here in addition to the coaching staff, so he’s in a great place to develop, and we’re looking forward to seeing him in Cherry & White.”
“I’m really excited to be coming to Gloucester” commented Llewellyn.
“It’s always been an ambition of mine to play in the Premiership and to do that for a club like Gloucester, it’s something I’m really looking forward to.
“I was fortunate enough to play at Kingsholm in pre-season and the atmosphere there was amazing; it’s somewhere you look forward to playing every week.”
England handed ‘kind’ draw for 2023 Rugby World Cup
The next tournament will be held in France and the hosts will face New Zealand in a blockbuster opening match in Saint-Denis.
Chile, Portugal and Tonga are the latest teams to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The finals work the same way as the 2019 tournament with the first two teams in each pool progressing to the quarter-finals, which will be contested by knock-out matches.
If we suppose the top-ranked teams each win their pools and the second-ranked teams finish runners-up then the quarter-finals in 2023 could look something like this…
As a result of the 'kind' draw, former boss Sir Clive Woodward has backed England to reach the semi-final.
He wrote in his column for the Mail Online: "Realistically, England will have to beat Argentina to top their pool and then either Australia or Wales to reach a semi-final.
"That is eminently achievable. However, to do so England need to get their star players back to their best. That did not happen in the Six Nations."
QUARTER-FINALS
Australia vs Argentina
South Africa vs France
England vs Wales
New Zealand vs Ireland
The 2023 tournament will take place between 8 September and 21 October 2023.
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The draw is a key milestone on the journey to Rugby World Cup France 2023, and the time when the tournament truly comes to life for teams and players alike.
“It enables key operational elements to be undertaken such as venue allocation, optimal match schedule development and the ticketing programme.”
FULL 2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP DRAW:
POOL A
- New Zealand
- France
- Italy
- Uruguay
- Namibia
POOL A FIXTURES:
Sep 8: France vs New Zealand (Pool A) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Sep 9: Italy vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
Sep 14: France vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Sep 15: New Zealand vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sep 20: Italy vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Stade de Nice, Nice
Sep 21: France vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Sep 27: Uruguay vs Namibia (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
Sep 29: New Zealand vs Italy (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
Oct 5: New Zealand vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
Oct 6: France vs Italy (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
Antoine Dupont of France calls for the mark during the Six Nations Championship match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 13 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
POOL B
- South Africa
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Tonga
- Romania
POOL B FIXTURES:
Sep 9: Ireland vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sep 10: South Africa vs Scotland (Pool B) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Sep 16: Ireland vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Sep 17: South Africa vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sep 23: South Africa vs Ireland (Pool B) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Sep 24: Scotland vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade de Nice, Nice
Sep 30: Scotland vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Oct 1: South Africa vs Asia / Pacific 1 (Pool B) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Oct 7: Ireland vs Scotland (Pool B) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Oct 8: Asia / Pacific 1 vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
POOL C
- Wales
- Australia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Final qualifier winner
POOL C FIXTURES:
Sep 9: Australia vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Sep 10: Wales vs Fiji (Pool C) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sep 16: Wales vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stade de Nice, Nice
Sep 17: Australia vs Fiji (Pool C) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
Sep 23: Georgia vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sep 24: Wales vs Australia (Pool C) – Parc OL, Lyon
Sep 30: Fiji vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Oct 1: Australia vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
Oct 7: Wales vs Europe 1 (Pool C) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Oct 8: Fiji vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
POOL D
- England
- Japan
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Chile
POOL D FIXTURES:
Sep 9: England vs Argentina (Pool D) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Sep 10: Japan vs Chile (Pool D) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sep 16: Samoa vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sep 17: England vs Japan (Pool D) – Stade de Nice, Nice
Sep 22: Argentina vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
Sep 23: England vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Sep 28: Japan vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Sep 30: Argentina vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Oct 7: England vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Oct 8: Japan vs Argentina (Pool D) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Marcus Smith of England and Alex Dombrandt of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
