Cherry Jam - A Gloucester Rugby Supporter Podcast

Despite a great start and leading 14-0 after only 10 minutes, Gloucester came up short away to Leicester at Welford Road. A late resurgence by the Cherry and Whites meant two bonus points and retaining top spot as we go into the first round of European fixtures.

We discuss what went wrong, what went right and our predictions for the Bordeaux game on Friday.

Elsewhere, worryingly low crowds at Exeter and Leicester plus Sarries pitch making news as Bristol deliberately rest players due to concerns around injuries.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Russ Brookes

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester are top of the league with a maximum 10 points from 10 after hammering a poor Harlequins side at Kingsholm.

A superb performance in front of an expectant and jubilant crowd, we discuss the best bits, what we want to see moving forward and whether a win against Leicester away would mean we all have to adjust our expectations.

Meanwhile, Saracens and Brendan Venter have found new and inventive ways of making themselves even more unlikable.

Finally, Ed chats with friend of the pod and fellow Gloucester supporter Bill Battistone about the Cherry and Whites start to the season, the chance of a Six Nations match heading Stateside (and whether even US rugby fans would actually want this) and how US Rugby is developing ahead of the 2031 World Cup.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

James Eastwood

Bill Battistone

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Even the most confident Gloucester supporter would have struggled to predict that result and performance. The Cherry and Whites ran in seven tries in a scintillating display that was one of the best we have seen for some time.

We discuss the team performance but also the individuals who stood out, where we can still see room for improvement but also where we hopefully see the patterns and bedrock for future success.

As ever Snowy will run through the latest Cherry Jam Stats to give some context behind the result.

Meanwhile, the Red Roses earnt a very late (and rather comical) last play win over the Black Ferns at a packed Twickenham.

Ed Price

James Eastwood (Snowy)

Lawrence Landray

Russ Brookes

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

No Gloucester game last week but we as we have reached 187 games since we started the pod, we decided to talk about some of our favourite performances and results during that time.

Loz gives us his thoughts ahead of the new season and we also discuss the Red Roses draw against Canada, plus other results in the Women's game including a superb opening win for a young Glos-Hartpury team away at Quins.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Lawrence Landray (Loz)

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester won their first game of the season with a convincing performance and victory over Sale in the Prem Cup. We discuss the game, who stood out and where we see room for improvement. Meanwhile as Russ took his son to his first Men's game, he took advantage of the Safe Space area (found in the old club shop space) and we want to sing the praises not only of the staff but the club as a whole.

Snowy introduces our new sister site -https://cherryjamstats.com/which we hope will give some much needed data and context through out the season.

Andy Charsley provides this weeks two minute summary while Jim and Ed run through the Red Roses win over Australia in the WXV while asking whether Sydney Sweeney or the BBC have done more damage to women's sport in the preceding week.

If you would like to donate to Russ, running the Badminton Marathon in memory of his late wife, Emily, please go to:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/rem-em-bering

Ed Price

Russ Brookes

James Eastwood (Snowy)

Special thanks to Andy Charsley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester took a strong squad down to Bristol for their first game of the season but lost narrowly in an entertaining game. We discuss the game, the new drinking experience at the ground and get a summary/alternative fan view of the performance.

Meanwhile, Gloucester also released their new European shirt and Cardiff managed to sell out all of their special 150th Anniversary shirt in about 1 hour.

We preview (briefly) the Sale game on Saturday and also the Red Roses first WXV game against Australia as once again the squad is full of Glos-Hartpury players.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Special thanks to Colin Boag

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

After a long summer we are back and raring to go for hopefully a more successful season on the pitch.

We discuss the new shirts, the open day experience and some of the clues we might have gleaned from the training session the fans got to sit in on - apart from the fact no one could catch or pass.

Thankfully with no rugby to talk about we are still full of hope and optimism as we look ahead to the first few rounds of the Prem Cup and PREM league fixtures.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Russ Brookes

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester ended a turbulent season on a high note with a dominant and deserved win over bottom side Newcastle. We chat through the game, the encouraging signs for next season and where we might see some continuity in tactics and style.

Meanwhile, Glos-Hartpury suffered a shock defeat at home to Bristol in their final league game of the season. Resting plenty of their key players, the girls missed numerous opportunities while gifting Bears at least 12 points in a scrappy display.

Are there reasons to be concerned as we preview this weekends semi-final at Queensholm?

Finally we round up all the rumours and confirmed departures from both Gloucester and Glos-Hartpury.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

We are proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester lost out in a hard fought, exciting and end to end match away to Northampton. We discuss the game, the performance and why the standards set in the match should be a source of encouragement (provided we can follow it up!)

Two bonus points mean that the Cherry and Whites are in control of their own destiny on the final weekend in their search for Champions Cup Rugby.

Meanwhile Gloucester Hartpury suffered their first league defeat of the season away to Ealing (who qualified for the playoffs) - we chat why this might not be the worst thing to happen while also discussing the announced departures of Sarah Beckett, Zoe Stratford and Tatiana Heard.

Finally we go through the various Rugby rumours out there too.

Ed Price

Russ Brookes

Jim Harley

We are proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester fell to a disappointing but not unexpected defeat away to Saracens. We chat through the potential positives and whether this is anything more than a good side beating an average one.

Elsewhere, the Red Roses secured another Six Nations Grand Slam with their best performance of the Championship beating France in Bordeaux.

South African sides may be on their way out of European competitions, we ask if this a good thing (YES!)

Finally, Jim explains the importance of a good tiller in Dragon Boat racing.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

For the first time this season, Gloucester secured back to back wins in the PREM after a hard fought victory over Sale Sharks at Kingsholm. We chat through the game, the reffing and whether we may have been too harsh (probably, but it was definitely a knock on before the George Ford drop-goal). Are there possibly some embryonic signs of improvement for next season?

Meanwhile, Glos-Hartpury continue their preparation for next season with multiple re-signings (and a departure) announced. We look ahead to the final weekend of the W6N and the last few games of the PWR campaign.

Finally, while Ealing will be preparing for their CHAMP playoffs and potentially a move to the URC, we discuss Cornish Pirates new investment from across the pond and what that might mean for Gloucester.

A very busy pod as we finally get around to reviewing Gloucester's excellent win over Exeter Chiefs (Sorry, Ed decided to watch football last week). We run through what made the difference from previous matches as well as the controversy from Slade's try and also this weekend's Champions Cup Semi Final where the French TV Director's once again took centre stage.

Meanwhile Bristol Bears CEO decided that Rugby was not the main reason he goes to work every day and Glos Hartpury get even more injuries to add the growing list.

Finally successful fund raises for not only Gloucester, but also our very own Marathon Man...

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Lawrence Landray

Russ Brookes

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

After another couple of weeks without a game, Gloucester returned to PREM action away to Bristol - but unfortunately it was much of the same as they ended up on the wrong side of another record defeat. We chat through the game, the disappointment with the overall manner of the performance as well as the lack of positives.

We discuss why the answer given by George Skivington on the question of why the team consistently has poor starts to games, is indicative of the wider issues within the coaching set-up and playing group.

Meanwhile we unpick whether the arrival of Brett Deacon and Joel Tomkins (only rumoured as we recorded on Sunday evening) would give us some hope for next year.

Finally we talk through the Red Roses emphatic win over Scotland in the W6N.

Ed Price

Russ Brookes

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Although Gloucester have had no rugby over the past few weeks but there is still plenty to chat about. As the Red Roses started their Six Nations campaign with a scratchy win, there were a number of serious injury concerns for three of the Glos-Hartpury contingent.

Meanwhile the Quarter Final round of the European club competitions saw some incredible games including an amazing all English clash won by Bath (we know!).

Finally, we look ahead to Gloucester's away game at Bristol before reminiscing about a famous win 30 years ago.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

After the big build up, Gloucester and several thousand Cherry and White supporters travelled to Villa Park for the Slater Cup match between Glaws and Leicester. Unfortunately, the game was pretty much over after 15 minutes and the day was hampered by travel chaos, an underwhelming atmosphere and many left Birmingham with a sense of apathy.

We discuss our experiences of the day, whether we can find any positives and what advice we would give to the club for next season.

Meanwhile, as ever, in more positive news the Glos-Hartpury women did their best to finish the weekend with a positive note. The girls racked up their 14th straight bonus point win as they break for the Women's Six Nations.

Ed Price

Russ Brookes

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester secured only their second league win of the season with a bonus point victory over Quins at The Stoop; we discuss the game, the key players and the specific areas where improvements led to the victory. We also chat through the parts that will need to strep-up even further to compete with Leicester this weekend at Villa Park.

Meanwhile, the Glos-Hartpury ladies secured a last minute win over an impressive Loughborough side, maintaining their 100% record. We talk through the great achievements already attained this season and hope that the fans can repay them with a sell out in the Semi Final at Queensholm in June.

This is our first opportunity to discuss the recent announcements of Chris Boyd and Rob Burgess' appointment and the management restructure. Can we really learn anything at this stage and our supporters right to be concerned over the current ambiguity.

Finally, after England's dreadful Six Nations campaign, does the performance against France give us any hope for the future or do we need to see more fundamental change.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Russ Brookes

We are proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP.

Gloucester's impressive win over Sale the previous week unfortunately meant nothing in the end, as they were once again beaten by Bath down at The Rec. We run through the positives (as ever) and in particular pick out the players who have impressed in an otherwise poor season.

Meanwhile, English Rugby is being revamped again, with the long overdue permanent removal of promotion and relegation to the Top flight.

Will it have the intended consequences or will it be another false dawn?

Finally as England head to Rome for this weekends Six Nations game against Italy, will it finally be the year of an Italian triumph?

Ed Price

James Eastwood (Snowy)

Russ Brookes

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

A lot of rugby to get through this week. Some great, some good, some very indifferent!

England travelled to Murrayfield with expectation but were thumped by a rampant Scotland. We chat through what went wrong and why Scotland seem to be a bogey team. Meanwhile as Ireland narrowly beat Italy courtesy of a TMO decision, Wales were comprehensively beaten by a French side brimming with confidence. Ed talks about his Cardiff experience and the worrying signs for the WRU.

On the domestic front, Ellie Kildunne could do nothing to stop Gloucester Hartpury win another game, with Sisilia Tuipulotu and Maud Muir scoring two barnstorming tries. Unfortunately, Gloucester's men were humbled down at Exeter with an embarrassing 48-14 defeat, with the Chiefs scoring 34 unanswered points in the second half.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

The first round of the Six Nations saw wins for Italy (in a very wet Rome); France with a thumping win over Ireland and England, who cruised to a very simple victory over Wales.

Meanwhile, in game ads are now a thing!? We discuss the matches, the performances and whether the in-game ads really are going to keep Rugby from going behind a paywall.

Gloucester-Hartpury continue their 100% record in the PWR after two bonus point wins over Loughborough and Sale. Gloucester shift their focus to the Prem Cup.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Cherry Jam is proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP

Gloucester lost out to an agonising late defeat to Bath, despite putting up their best performance of the season.

We talk through the game and discuss why this needs to be the standard to hit moving forwards.

We also read out your comments and questions to a mythical Fans Forum.

Ed Price

Jim Harley

Russ Brookes

Lawrence Landray

We are proud to be sponsored by PGT LLP