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

Charlie Atkinson has had three professional clubs and plenty of set-backs in his career so far, but now he is riding high with a resurgent Gloucester Atkinson and Gloucester sit top of the Prem table after two bonus-point victories so far in their campaign 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 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