Floored by Farrell to top of the league - Atkinson on Gloucester resurgence

Charlie Atkinson can see the funny side now.

"I mean, I met my hero," he says smilingly.

Atkinson is remembering his second Prem appearance, back in September 2020. He was 18 years old. He had been ushered straight into the Wasps first team as squads were stretched to fulfil a condensed post-lockdown fixture list

Atkinson had just come off the bench against Saracens when, having fielded a kick downfield, he was blindsided by Owen Farrell's reckless, high tackle. Atkinson was left unconscious on the Stonex pitch as the referee showed red.

Farrell was instantly contrite, waiting on the touchline to check on Atkinson and then visiting him again in the dressing room.

The incident, as with anything involving Farrell, attracted attention and debate.

"It definitely put my name out there," adds Atkinson.

"It was obviously accidental, but as it was a concussion I was sent home for the week, I didn't play again that season. It was probably a good thing, slowing down so that at 18, I could just focus on training and getting used to men's rugby."

Atkinson is good at seeing the upside. He has had to be. Perspective comes with experience and he has been through plenty already in his rugby career.

Three days after his 21st birthday, having established himself as his boyhood club's first-choice fly-half, he unknowingly played in Wasps' final ever game, a dramatic 40-36 defeat by Northampton.

"We'd seen a few rumours on Twitter that week but nothing major and we hadn't heard anything from the owner or CEO, so we just thought 'we'll be alright'," he says.

"It was a wasn't even really in the back of my mind.

"That next Tuesday or Wednesday they broke the news that our jobs were gone. It was obviously very sad, it was the only club I ever knew."

After Wasps went into administration in October 2022, Gloucester and Harlequins made approaches to sign Atkinson. But he was convinced by a meeting with Steve Borthwick, who had just steered Leicester to the Premiership title and was offering the security of a longer deal.

Atkinson duly signed up with Tigers. Borthwick and assistant Kevin Sinfield departed for England two months later.

Under new boss Dan McKellar, Atkinson endured a difficult year at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, shunted to the fringes.

Still, he had just completed on a house purchase in Leicester, when, a week later, his agent informed him Gloucester had agreed a deal to take him to Kingsholm.

Finally, despite the upheaval, he has found a home.

"I'm just forever grateful for Gloucester for coming in then because who knows where I could have ended up if I'd stayed at the Tigers," he says.

"I love coming in here every day. There is a great, young core of guys, we made some great signings in the summer and everyone's mates with everyone. It's just a great feeling at the minute."

Gloucester, who finished eighth last season, have started this campaign like a train.

Buoyed by the arrival of Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Jean Kleyn and others, they combined heft up front with deft hands out back to beat Prem finalist Exeter on the opening day, before flattening Harlequins 48-0 in front of a bouncing home crowd.

The Cherry and Whites sit in an unaccustomed position on the top of the Prem pile.

Up next, on Friday night, is a return to Leicester for Atkinson.

After the match, he will meet up with Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward and others who he became mates with during his time at Tigers.

Such is Atkinson's form, he could be spending more time with them in England camps.