Dan Robson: I haven't come back for a jolly at Gloucester

Dan Robson insists he has not come back to Gloucester “for a jolly”.

The 34-year-old former England scrum-half rejoined the club in summer 2026 after four seasons with Pau in France’s Top 14, the French top flight. He spoke about Dupont, Pau and rebuilding Gloucester in an interview published on 25 September 2026, according to The Guardian.

Robson knows Kingsholm well. He is a Gloucester academy graduate who made his professional debut in 2013 and made 80 appearances before leaving 11 years ago. He joined Wasps in 2015, as listed by Section Paloise.

Wasps later collapsed financially. Robson played there alongside Jack Willis. Willis moved on to Toulouse after the collapse and plays in the back row, the loose forwards who carry, tackle and compete at the breakdown.

France changed Robson. He first joined Section Paloise until the end of the season at the age of 30, then stayed for four years. His two sons, Laker and Roux, were born in Pau. On the pitch, Pau climbed from relegation trouble to the upper rungs of the Top 14 table during his spell.

Gloucester need that lift. The scrum-half — the No 9 who links forwards and backs and usually fires the ball away from the ruck, the contest for the ball on the ground after a tackle — will compete with Caolan Englefield for the starting shirt. Chris Boyd is now technical director. Welsh internationals Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan are part of the squad.

The task is clear. Gloucester have not reached the Premiership playoffs, the end-of-season top-four shootout for the title, since 2018-19. It is 19 years since they last finished top of the league table.

It starts hard. Gloucester face Exeter away in round one of the new Premiership season, England’s top division.

For fans, this means experience with an edge. Robson is back where he started. He wants wins, not nostalgia.