England star set to quit club for one of two PREM Rugby rivals

Atkinson made his England debut against Argentina last summer and has since earned seven caps for Steve Borthwick’s side. His performances at club level have now reportedly caught the attention of several potential suitors.

According to the Daily Mail, Harlequins and Saracens could both be interested in signing the 24-year-old. Atkinson’s girlfriend already works in London, while both clubs could be looking to strengthen at inside centre depending on the development of Bryn Bradley and Olly Hartley.

Atkinson has been with Gloucester since 2022, joining the Cherry and Whites following the demise of Worcester Warriors.

The centre has quickly established himself as one of the standout performers at Kingsholm, with his form earning him a chance to represent England at Test level.

His performances have not been the only thing to catch the eye, with Atkinson’s extraordinary fitness levels also setting him apart.

In 2024, he completed the gruelling Bronco test in just 4 minutes and 8 seconds, a running drill designed to test the conditioning of rugby players.

His time set a new benchmark in the PREM and even bettered the efforts of some of the world’s best players. Atkinson was four seconds quicker than Beauden Barrett and three seconds faster than Hugo Keenan, recording the fastest time ever seen in rugby.

“I didn’t really know how fit I was and then just started to go and kept on going,” he said last year. “ [I] Put in a pretty good score which will be tough to beat next pre-season but what can you do.”

“It’s something that I’ve always been big on. My background was always running, cross-country running and triathlons. I think I just enjoyed it more than anything.”

There has already been plenty of change at Gloucester this summer, with the club undergoing a coaching reshuffle while also making several major additions to their squad.

Wales internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake have arrived at Kingsholm, while World Cup-winning Springbok Jean Kleyn has also joined the club.

With a new coaching structure now in place, questions remain over exactly where Atkinson fits into Gloucester’s long-term plans and whether the new regime could look elsewhere in midfield.

With interest reportedly building in the England international, Gloucester could have a battle on their hands to keep hold of one of their most promising talents.