Moment in Time: Gloucester and the 2003 Powergen Cup Final

It is perhaps typical of Gloucester's ill-fortune down the years that their 2002-3 campaign is best remembered for two complete and utter disasters: the humiliating 33-6 thrashing by Munster in Limerick that ended their Heineken Cup hopes; and an even more grizzly 39-3 defeat by Wasps in that season's inaugural Premiership grand final. Largely overlooked and forgotten, unfortunately for them, is that this was one of the finest seasons in Cherry & White history.
With their trio of Samoan warhorses, Terry Fanolua, Junior Paramore and Robert Todd, in their pomp, experienced hands such as Andy Deacon, Rob Fidler, Mark Cornwell and captain Jake Boer providing the grunt and a host of keen and eager young beavers in the shape of Andy Hazell, James Simpson-Daniel, Marcel Garvey and the athletic James Forrester providing the gas, this was a Gloucester side that went through the entire season losing just six of its 33 games.
Fly-half Ludovic Mercier was one of the best kickers the Premiership has ever seen and with rugby league convert Henry Paul providing additional guile from midfield or full-back, not even Leicester could live with them. Gloucester won the league at a canter, a full 15 points separating them from second-placed Wasps. But then came a three-week break courtesy of the play-off system and by the time they faced a battle-hardened Wasps at Twickenham, momentum had gone.
A few weeks earlier, however, it had all been sweetness and light down Kingsholm way after a sparkling Powergen Cup final victory over Northampton in front of 74,500 at Twickenham. It was generally considered to be one of the best finals of all time and it represented Gloucester's first outright Senior Cup win since 1978, when they had defeated Leicester 6-3. This was a step up from that dreary affair, though, with four sparkling tries for Gloucester fans to savour.
“We had a good team and a unique way of playing,” says Deacon, Gloucester's long-serving prop, who was given the honour of collecting the trophy. “Nigel Melville and Dean Ryan had turned the club upside down and the way we played that season was very enjoyable. Everybody bought into it and we had a very strong squad, but it was typical of Gloucester that after waiting so long to win a league title, we should do it in the year they introduced those damned play-offs.
“In a way, though, that's what made the Powergen Cup so special for us. It meant we got something from the season and it was a hell of a day. They talk about the Olympics and how the fans made the occasion, but Gloucester and Northampton's fans certainly made it a great occasion at Twickenham that day and it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It's a shame the cup competition's been diminished now, because those big occasions were appreciated by the fans.
“The cup had gained real momentum for us and once we reached the final, the fever amongst our supporters in Gloucester reached boiling point. The demand for tickets was tremendous and Twickenham itself was awash with red and white. Northampton had a fair chunk as well and I remember people saying they'd never seen or heard an atmosphere like it.”

A nip-and-tuck first half ended with Saints holding a narrow 22-20 lead, but in truth it was Gloucester who had played the rugby, with Nick Beal's lone try sandwiched between two Cherry & White efforts from Simpson-Daniel and Garvey. In the second half Northampton were blown away, Forrester powering over in the corner before Simpson-Daniel provided the coup de grace late on.
“You get a feeling in rugby sometimes that you're always going to win, and we had that feeling that day,” says Deacon. “We'd arrived in London on the Thursday and trained well beforehand, so everything just felt right. It was a very exciting game to play in and we were confident going in. Ultimately we did win it and our captain, Jake Boer, gave me the honour of going up with my son, Oliver, and lifting the cup. It was the highlight of my career.
“I've had a wonderful time in rugby with where I've played and who I've met, as all rugby players have, but that stands out for me because of the number of people that were there. We came back to Kingsholm afterwards and really celebrated, and then there was a bus tour through Gloucester. The local paper produced a special edition and tens of thousands of people came out to see us.
It was a truly special week, one I'd love to see repeated at Gloucester.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: THE CLASS OF 2003
1. Trevor Woodman: An England World Cup winner later that year. Joined Sale in 2004 but forced to quit through injury in 2005. Moved to Australia, but is now forwards coach at Wasps.
2. Olivier Azam: Left Gloucester in 2011 and is now forwards coach at Toulon.
3. Andy Deacon: Joined Cinderford as player-coach in 2004 and is now their director of rugby. Is also sales manager of Raging Bull Ltd, the clothing firm owned by Phil Vickery.
4. Adam Eustace: Joined Llanelli in 2007, but returned to Gloucester a year later before joining Northampton in 2010. Forced to quit last year and now coaches Widden Old Boys.
5. Rob Fidler: Joined Bath that summer, where he played for five years before joining Cinderford. Now coaches the forwards at Old Patesians.
6. Jake Boer: Returned to Cape Town in 2007, but made a brief return to Gloucester in 2010. Now runs the Wacky Bush Lodge in Cape Town and describes himself as an “entrepreneur”.
7. Andy Hazell: Still going strong in the back row at Gloucester.
8. James Forrester: Was sadly forced to quit rugby after missing the entire 2007-8 season, but started a new life in Singapore where he is now the owner of UFIT Urban Fitness.
9. Andy Gomarsall: Won the World Cup with England in 2003, finalist in 2007. Played for Worcester, Harlequins and Leeds before retiring in 2010. Now commentates for ESPN and ITV and is a director of information and technology firm N2S Ltd.
10: Ludovic Mercier: Joined Grenoble that summer, then spent a year at Pau before returning to Gloucester in 2005. Left for Petrarca in 2007 and joined Aironi in 2010. Spent last season at Pro D2 outfit St Etienne, where he still plays.
11. James Simpson-Daniel: Still going strong at Gloucester.
12: Henry Paul: Joined Harlequins RL in 2006, before returning to RU with Leeds in 2008. Released in 2010 and went into coaching. Worked with Russia at 2011 World Cup and is coach of Russia 7s.
13: Terry Fanolua: Joined Brive in 2006 and then played for AS Cannes whilst gaining coaching qualifications in France. Still based on the Cote D'Azur.
14: Marcel Garvey: Joined Worcester in 2006, where he played for six years before moving to Castres this summer.
15: Tinus Delport: Joined Worcester in 2004, where he played for five years before finishing career as player-coach at Stourbridge. Now head coach of Old Patesians and works for Sky Sports.
Replacements:
Junior Paramore (for Hazell, 62): Joined Bedford as player-coach in 2004, before becoming head coach at Luton in 2006. Then coached Bournemouth and Basingstoke and is now a coach at Canford School in Wimborne.
Robert Todd (for Paul, 74): Joined Sale in 2004 but was forced to quit in 2006 after successfully battling skin cancer. Launched coaching career with Bournemouth and now works with Junior Paramore at Canford School.