Gloucester Rugby have confirmed that England international duo Ollie Thorley and Zach Mercer have both been ruled out for the rest of the season with knee injuries.

Winger Thorley and number eight Mercer both suffered injuries in the victory over Northampton Saints at the end of November and have both had surgery to rectify the damage. Mercer could well have played his last game in Cherry and White with the dynamic backrower expected to leave the club for Toulon in the summer, midway through his initial four-year deal at Kingsholm, having joined the Premiership side from Montpellier ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Rising tighthead prop star Afo Fasogbon is also expected to be sidelined for around three months after suffering an ankle injury in the win over Harlequins last week which is understood to have caused minor damage to his Achilles. The 20-year-old, who played for England A earlier in the year, had been tipped to be involved with England for the 2025 Six Nations but is now targeting a return to playing after the tournament.

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Gloucester also look set to be without the services of Argentina international lock Matias Alemanno after the forward left Sandy Park on Sunday with his arm in a makeshift sling.

Speaking after the match, director of rugby George Skivington said: "He didn't look good, I don't know exactly what it is, obviously his shoulder, but he's in a sling now.

"Matty doesn't go down easily so we'll see. We've got some good young lads coming through so from that point of view, Arthur Clark comes back in next week for selection [to face Sale Sharks at Kingsholm on Saturday] so hopefully Matty's not too bad but he's probably going to need a rest I'd say."

While the injuries to Mercer and Thorley are a blow, with both men starters in Gloucester's strongest side, Skivington does have significant cover in both positions with Fijian international Albert Tuisue or Ruan Ackermann experienced at the back of the scrum, and the wings well stocked with Josh Hathaway and Christian Wade.