Gloucester kicked off their season with an emphatic 45-24 bonus-point win against Exeter, marking a promising start to their campaign. The Cherry and Whites established a 14-point lead by half-time on a breezy afternoon in Devon, a significant improvement given their single away league win in the entire 2025-26 season.
New Welsh reinforcement Dewi Lake was a standout performer, scoring two tries and significantly bolstering Gloucester's efforts in set pieces and the maul, earning him player of the match. Ben Loader also found the try line twice, contributing to Gloucester's seven-try fusillade.
The victory was also a positive for Gloucester's new forwards coach, Brett Deacon, and technical director, Chris Boyd. While Exeter reportedly had some illness in their camp, it did not fully account for Gloucester's overall supremacy, which showcased improved cohesion and focus.
Despite a late surge from Exeter, including a try from Louie Gulley on his Prem debut, Gloucester sealed the win with a last-minute try from Junior Denny. The match saw an attendance of 8,682.