JOSH HATHAWAY (GLOUCESTER RUGBY)
The fourth and final name on Gatland’s uncapped list, Josh Hathaway has been exciting the Cherry and White faithful with his recent performances for Gloucester Rugby. Another member of the Wales U20 class of 2020/21, Hathaway was ushered into the fold at the earliest possible opportunity and made his Wales U20 debut in the previously discussed defeat to the Azzurri. An Aberyswyth native, Hathaway swapped the Welsh seaside town for a spot in the Scarlets Academy, yet failed to make his senior squad impact during his time in Llanelli.
Hathaway would move across the Severn Bridge in 2022, and refresh his early career as he arrived in Gloucester. The young wing made his Gloucester senior debut whilst still firmly amongst the U20 fold, yet he had since swapped the Welsh age grade squad for a spot in the England U20s set-up. Hathaway marked his England U20 debut with a hat-trick against Scotland in the 2023 U20 Six Nations, and was listed in the same starting XV that has since produced Chandler Cunningham-South and Greg Fisilau to the England camp.
The talented youngster could well become the latest England eligible talent to slip through Steve Borthwick’s fingers, and join the likes of Sale’s Scotland camp member Arron Reed as a ‘what could have been’ for England fans. Hathaway scored his first Gloucester try upon the opening weekend of the 2023/24 season, as he crossed over against Nottingham in the Premiership Rugby Cup. The 20-year-old has since tallied up eight tries for George Skivington’s side, and has given Gloucester fans rare enjoyment from a difficult Premiership campaign.
Hathaway has been apart of 19 Gloucester fixtures from the latest season, with nine of the involvements coming in the starting XV. He made replacement appearances in both of Gloucester’s finals, first coming in the form of an eight minute cameo in the Premiership Rugby Cup triumph over Leicester Tigers. The latter replacement saw Hathaway receive the touchline torch from Gloucester’s stalwart flyer Jonny May, as the former England wing bid his farewells in the EPCR Challenge Cup Final defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks.