Gloucester seal Seb Atkinson on two-year deal to fend off Leicester Tigers

Gloucester Rugby have retained England centre Seb Atkinson on a two-year contract extension, the Gallagher Premiership champions announced, keeping the 24-year-old at Kingsholm until 2029 and ending Leicester Tigers’ bid to prise him away.

Atkinson, who has earned seven England caps since making his senior international debut against Argentina in 2025, had been identified by Leicester as a solution to their inside-centre vacancy heading into next season. Gloucester moved to secure his future before that interest could develop further.

The former Worcester Warriors midfielder has twice been named Gloucester’s Player of the Year — in 2024 and 2026 — and was included in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the forthcoming Nations Championship campaign, underlining his growing importance at both club and international level.

Head coach George Skivington described the renewal as a landmark moment for the club. “This is a really significant re-signing for us. Seb had plenty of options on the table, so his commitment to the club is a real indication of where Gloucester Rugby is right now,” Skivington said. “He came with great physical qualities and an outstanding level of professionalism. He’s the ultimate professional and a fantastic role model for any young rugby player.”

Atkinson himself pointed to the environment at Kingsholm as the decisive factor. “I’m in a place where I feel valued by the coaches, the fans and my teammates. I’m enjoying my rugby and feel this is the perfect environment for me to continue developing and improving my game,” he said. “Most importantly, I’m committed to helping bring success to this club. When I took all of those things into consideration, signing a new deal was the only decision.”

The retention of Atkinson reinforces Gloucester’s standing as a genuine force in English club rugby and removes one of the more coveted centres on the market from Leicester’s reach ahead of the next transfer window.