British and Irish Lions star handed surprise Prem captaincy role as England ace replaced

Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams in action in the 2024/25 season.
British and Irish Lions and Wales international Tomos Williams has been handed the captaincy reins at Gloucester for the upcoming Prem campaign, replacing long-standing skipper Lewis Ludlow.
He will also be joined by England internationals Seb Atkinson and Arthur Clark in a new-look leadership group at Kingsholm, with the duo named as vice-captains.
‘I’m looking forward to leading them on the pitch’
Williams only joined the Cherry and Whites last season, but quickly became a key player in the squad. Across his maiden season in the West County, the scrum-half notched 19 appearances, 17 of which came in the starting XV, while scoring nine tries along the way.
His form across the league season also earned him the prestigious Premiership Player of the Year award.
Commenting on the news, the 30-year-old said: “I’m incredibly proud to be named captain of such a historic rugby club.
“When I first arrived at Gloucester, I quickly learned how much this club means to the city and how passionate the fans are.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent them, both home and away, and to have their support behind us.
“We’ve got an exciting, ambitious group here, and I’m looking forward to leading them on the pitch.”
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Also commenting, Gloucester director of rugby, George Skivington, added: “Firstly, I would like to thank Lewis Ludlow for the great work he’s done as Club Captain over the past five and a half seasons.
“He’s fully embodied what this Club is all about: passion, desire, grit, and continues to do so every time he steps on the field. He’ll continue to be an important player for us, but we felt it was the right time to select a new Captain.
“Ever since Tomos came in, we viewed him as someone with lots of leadership potential, and over the past season, he’s really impressed us with the way he communicates with the lads and the standards that he sets. His performances on the field and the impact he has on those around him speak for themselves.”
Of his new vice-captains, Skivington said: “Arthur and Seb are two really impressive young men and are both already strong leaders in their own right.”