ATTACKING rugby and the chance to link up with Nigel Davies again sold Tavis Knoyle on his move to Gloucester.
The 22-year-old scrum-half completed the formalities of his two-year Kingsholm switch today.
The nine-cap Wales half-back joins from the Scarlets and will replace Exeter Chiefs-bound Dave Lewis as frontline competition for Jimmy Cowan and Dan Robson next term.
Gloucester boss Davies gave Knoyle his Scarlets chance in 2009 – and four years later the Wales Under-20s graduate admitted he cannot wait to work with his former coach once more.
Knoyle believes Gloucester are playing the same kind of open rugby that had the Scarlets thriving under former Wales centre Davies.
And he is thrilled at the prospect of his opportunity to help drive that forward.
Relishing the prospect of lining up alongside Gloucester's pacy and incisive backline, he explained: "It's an honour to join Gloucester.
"And it's an honour to be linking up with Nigel Davies again.
"The way Gloucester are playing now, it's the way the Scarlets played when I first went down there, throwing the ball around, everyone enjoying themselves and threatening too.
"I came to watch Harlequins against Gloucester, and that was a great experience for me.
"The fans were fantastic that night, and I hear it is like that every week, and that's excellent.
"There's so much passion there, they just want their club to do well, and that's what it's all about.
"It's a great opportunity, just to get out there and go for it.
"It's great to be joining such a great club with a good history, and it's an exciting time for me.
"I just want a breath of fresh air, to be honest, just get out and experience rugby in the Premiership and with Gloucester.
"I'm looking forward to a new challenge, and a chance to express myself the best way.
"When I first started with the Scarlets, when Nigel was there, Gloucester remind me of how they used to play, chucking the ball around from deep, playing with their heads up.
"It's really exciting rugby.
"I've watched them a lot this year and they've done exactly that – it's been great to watch."
Knoyle anticipates a tough battle with All Black World Cup winner Cowan and Gloucester supporters' young player of the year Robson – but he ready for the test.
He continued: "The boys at eight and nine already have a great relationship, and that's why they play such good rugby.
"It's going to be difficult to win chances, but competition is vital, you respect that.
"All you can do is work really hard, concentrate on yourself as an individually, and do the best you can.
"I just want to concentrate on being as accurate as I can, and trying to enjoy it all."
Funding rows between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regional clubs rage on, and all the while home-grown players are continuing to leave.
Knoyle swells that number, but he fully believes he has made the right decision at the right time – to help make the most of his playing career.
He added: "It's very sad to see boys leaving Wales, because that's where we've all been brought up.
"But there again rugby's about experiences, in a short career.
"And it's a pleasure and a challenge to come here and have a chance to be a part of this club.
"It was just something I wanted to do.
"Things change in rugby, decisions are made, things are done and sometimes you've just got to go with it.
"Things happen for a reason, I believe.
"The way Nigel coaches, what he's done here at Gloucester, it just goes to show again what a great coach he is.
"The players and the management at Gloucester are right up there among the best, and it's an exciting place to be.
"To be fair to Nigel, he always said if you're playing well you'll keep the jersey.
"That's how it was with my time under Nigel – if you play well then you will have more chances.
"I know he has a similar outlook here, and that's great.
"It's a big pack here, that's been able to give the backline chances with the ball.
"And you look along the backline, with Freddie Burns, Billy Twelvetrees, Sharples and May, you can keep going on and on.
"They are all playing great rugby, it's great to watch and I can't wait for the chance to be a part of it.
"The move for me is really exciting.
"We're not too far from home, and family and friends.
"They will always be there, but you've got to take the experiences when they come, try something different and just go for it."
