BACKYARD World Cup rugby can inspire Gloucester's English tyros to sustained success with both club and country, believes Nigel Davies.
Tournament organisers yesterday confirmed Kingsholm will host four World Cup matches in 2015.
Gloucester boss Davies has challenged his developing English Cherry and Whites to break into Stuart Lancaster's squad in time to make a pivotal impact at their home World Cup.
Rugby director Davies firmly believes Ben Morgan, Billy Twelvetrees, Freddie Burns, Jonny May, Charlie Sharples, Dan Robson and more besides can become mainstays of Lancaster's England squad.
And the former Wales centre has told his English charges that a World Cup on their doorstep must spur them on to regular international acclaim.
Davies believes Kingsholm's World Cup exposure will provide a compelling worldwide advert for the Cherry and Whites – that can boost the club's long-term future.
He explained: "I think we will have a solid contingent in England's World Cup squad.
"When you look at our average age, we're a young squad compared to some of the top teams in Europe.
"Over the next couple of years these players are only going to mature and improve.
"They are on the fringes of English selection already.
"And hopefully over the next couple of years, with how they improve and develop, they will be right up there.
"It's a fantastic challenge for those players to have in front of them – play well consistently with the club, and they will force their way in for chances with England.
"This is absolutely fabulous news, I think it's absolutely right for a venue like Kingsholm and the county of Gloucestershire to be able to host World Cup games.
"The passion that supporters show here will guarantee that all the matches will be sell-outs.
"Kingsholm is a very special venue, the atmosphere created here is unique, and it's a great opportunity for our supporters to view some key games in the World Cup.
"We've got some great teams here as well. To have the likes of Argentina, Scotland and Tonga, it's great.
"The supporters are right on top of you, and that will create some great contests.
"The teams that play here will play in a very special place.
"And I'm sure those games will be huge occasions.
"First of all it certainly puts Gloucester on the worldwide map, people all over the world will see what this place is like, they will feel the atmosphere, it will definitely come across on the TV.
"And Gloucester will be in the forefront of people's minds.
"One of the things we're trying to do here is promote ourselves, into Europe and worldwide.
"A lot of that will depend on how we perform on the field, but to have this level of exposure is going to make people sit up and think about what we are.
"The atmosphere created during matches will speak for itself.
"We can feed off that in the long-term, it gives us a great chance to promote ourselves.
"But also for the city and Gloucestershire, the revenue potentially brought in will be substantial."
Scotland's Kingsholm World Cup clash on Wednesday, September 23 lines up what would be a popular return for Gloucester skipper Jim Hamilton, who will leave the Cherry and Whites for Montpellier in the summer.
Gloucester's Tongan duo Sione Kalamafoni and Lua Lokotui could well turn out for their national side at their club ground in 2015.
The South Sea Islanders will host a European qualifying side yet to be determined at Kingsholm on Saturday, September 19.
And Cherry and Whites boss Davies believes both men would relish the opportunity to turn out in the colours of their country at Kingsholm.
Davies continued: "It will be great for our Tongans to play at Kingsholm for their country too.
"They will be able to explain to their team-mates what it's all about.
"And Sione and Lua will be excited about what's in store for them.
"They are firm favourites already within the Gloucester squad, and I know our supporters will come out in force to get behind them.
"It's fantastic to think that Kingsholm has been given the honour of hosting those events.
"The squad is part of what Kingsholm is, and it's recognition for everything that's happening, both on and off the field.
"I know the work commercially that's gone on behind the scenes to realise this, and the club and the council have to be applauded for that."
