New Gloucester lock Joe Joyce wants to make friends in The Shed

Joe Joyce hopes the loud and boisterous ‘Shed’ will be singing about his ball-carrying and lineout skills rather than how “skinny” his legs are when he starts out on a new challenge in the West Country for Gloucester.

Back in the Premiership after a three-year spell playing for Connacht and tracing some ancestors, the proud Bristolian now only has an appetite for Cherry and White success.

And the 32-year-old feels the much-changed Gloucester coaching setup and also freshened up playing staff can supply the perfect base for a strong title campaign.

The 6ft 5in lock says: “The Premiership table has changed over the last three or four years, and it will probably do so again this coming season.”

Strong

“No-one really expected Exeter to do what they did and make the final, after what they had gone through previously.

“So why can’t that be us this time?

“From the outside, it looked a very strong finish by the team to last season and the vibes are really positive here for what is coming up.

“Not everyone is back yet, so we will discuss our team goals when the international guys are. But in my head I can’t see any reason why we can’t make top four.

“Gloucester is proper rugby club supported by a real working class fan-base and I’m sure I will be well suited here.

“The fans are very loyal and always get behind the players. They create a fantastic atmosphere.

“I’ve only ever had stick from two sets of supporters before. One was at the Arms Park in Cardiff. The other was at Kingsholm.

“I was under a restart from Danny Cipriani and I remember the guys in the Shed shouting: ‘look how skinny his legs are!’

“It’s all good natured and they have a good sense of humour. Now I’m looking forward to being on their side and them shouting nice things at me!

“I was surprised how much staff there is here, it’s amazing, so there will be no excuses if we don’t do well this season.

“I knew it was good but I didn’t realise it was this good. The focus on recovery and nutrition is brilliant.”

Battle-hardened: Joe Joyce in action for Connacht

PICTURE: Alamy

New ideas

Gloucester have recruited well with Welsh Lions Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake leading the charge, along with Springbok Jean Kleyn.

Joyce says: “We’ve signed some real high quality players, some Lions men and a World Cup winner, so I’ve probably gone under the radar, which is fine by me.

“The Welsh and England boys will be back in shortly after their mandatory break which will be good.”

On working with the new coaches including Brett Deacon, below, and Joel Tomkins, Joyce said: “I’m enjoying the coaching.

“I’d had the same forwards coach for about eight years in the shape of John Muldoon at Bristol and Connacht.

“So it’s now fresh voices and ideas with a different system. Brett has been very impressive, and Joel coming from rugby league.

“You wouldn’t think it because with his systems and the way he talks about defence you’d feel he’s been coaching in union for years.

“So with this outstanding coaching set-up it’s all put together for us to achieve big things.”

Support

Joyce says he benefited greatly from leaving his home club to broaden his horizons and evolve his game in the URC.

He says: “I was at Bristol for a very long time and I was happy there but part of the reason I switched to Connacht was because of the huge family connection and it was a wonderful chance to try something different.

“My dad’s family are from Connemara and Galway. My mum’s side is Tipperary, and Munster…but we won’t talk about them!

“I made a lot of friends there. You do a lot of travelling and the fans were great to me.

“Even when I had an absolute stinker against Bordeaux the fans still came up to me to say how well I’d played!

“They support you no matter what.”