Barkley relishing Tindall partnership
July 31 2008
New Gloucester signing Olly Barkley is relishing the chance to rekindle his partnership with former bath team-mate Mike Tindall.
26-year-old Barkley opted to jump ship at the end of last season, following in Tindall's footsteps - after the England centre traded The Rec for Kingsholm back in 2005.
"It'll be nice to get a run of games with Tinds," Barkley told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
"Anthony Allen's there at the moment and played very well last season, so I've got a big task in front of me."
Barkley is not expected to be fit for the start of the season, as he is currently recovering from a broken wrist sustained on England's two-Test tour to New Zealand in the off-season.
With pre-season in full flow Barkley had time to reflect on his move, and despite some criticism he has no doubts about whether he was right to leave Bath for their fierce rivals.
"I'd been there for eight years and I wanted to be able to say when I finish rugby I gave it a crack somewhere else," he added.
"Whatever happens I want to give it a good go and Gloucester were the only club that, if I left Bath, could really help me achieve what I want to."