CONFIRMED | Gloucester confirm another huge departure

Humphreys said "It has been a huge honour to have played a small part in the history of this great Club. I have loved every minute of my time here and have been very fortunate to work with great coaches and support staff, and with great players. Over that time, we have built the foundations for a successful Club, both on and off the pitch, and last season’s 3rd place finish in the Premiership was a reflection of the progress that has been made.

"However, following Johan Ackermann’s departure last month, I took some time to review my own position at Gloucester and in light of many new challenges facing professional rugby as a result of Covid-19, I felt it was the right time for me to move on and a new Head Coach to come in and build on the work that has been done.

"It is always difficult to leave somewhere that has become home and I will always be very grateful to everyone in the West Country for the very warm welcome they gave to both me and my family. In particular, a huge personal thanks to Martin St Quinton for his friendship and encouragement throughout my time at Gloucester, and for his support in building a Gloucester playing squad to be a competitive force in the Premiership.

"The Gallagher Premiership is a wonderful competition and I will miss the excitement building up to every game at Kingsholm. When I left Ulster I didn’t think there were many places to rival the atmosphere at the Kingspan stadium, but from beating Sale in my first game at Kingsholm, I realised what a special place it is to play rugby when you’re wearing a Cherry & White shirt. This is entirely due to the incredible Gloucester supporters and I thank you all for your support over the last few seasons.

"Before leaving at the end of the month, I will continue to work closely with Martin, Lance Bradley, and the senior management team, to support the recruitment of a new Head Coach and to help ensure an easy transition back into training for the playing squad and staff."

Here are four possible replacements for the South African:

Following England’s Rugby World Cup failure in 2015, Lancaster has begun to re-establish himself as a top coach since joining Leinster. 

There is no need for him to leave the Irish, where he is having a very enjoyable and successful stint, but increased responsibility at one of English rugby’s biggest clubs?

If Gloucester are willing to meet the compensation requirement to buy him out of his current contract, it must be a tempting proposition.

The former Leicester head coach arrived at Edinburgh on a two-year deal in 2017 and signed a two-year extension before his first season was finished.

The former England international has made a major impact, leading Edinburgh to three European quarter-finals with this season’s campaign unfinished, and guiding them to top spot in Guinness PRO14 Conference B before the coronavirus pandemic forced a suspension of play.

This would be a fantastic appointment.

The Welshman is on the hunt for a new role after leaving Wasps earlier this season.

Captained Wales at rugby union and league and cut his teeth as a coach with Cardiff Blues, eventually guiding them to Anglo-Welsh Cup with a thrashing of Gloucester at Twickenham and European Challenge Cup glory by beating Jonny Wilkinson’s star-studded Toulon in Marseilles.

Quit the Blues the following year for Wasps and had done a decent job of turning them into a team challenging for top honours after overcoming a financial crisis by moving to Coventry.

The 49-year-old is serving a ban for placing bets on more than 1,000 rugby matches over four years in breach of the game's regulations. However, he could come into contention when his suspension ends in June 2020.

As well as acting as Gatland's assistant with Wales, Howley took over the head coach role when the New Zealander was in charge of the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017 - guiding Wales to the Six Nations title in 2013.

As a player he won 59 Wales caps and played in two Lions Tests.