Today's rugby news as English coach blown away by Gatland's men and Wales star learns fate after grim incident

Here are the latest rugby headlines. on Sunday, October 27.

English coach blown away by Gatland's men

Gloucester boss George Skivington hailed the impact his Welsh stars are making this season after the five players selected by Warren Gatland for the Autumn Nations Series shone in the 36-7 Premiership win over Newcastle.

Gloucester were dubbed the ‘fifth Welsh region’ this week after call-ups for scrum-half Tomos Williams, fly-half Gareth Anscombe, centre Max Llewellyn, full-back Josh Hathaway and lock Freddie Thomas, and all started in the club’s second win of the season.

Skivington’s men scored six tries against basement side Newcastle, dotting down through Jack Clement, Williams, Seb Blake, Jack Singleton, Christian Wade and Hathaway, with two further tries disallowed and a couple of others prime opportunities wasted.

Anscombe, who joined the Cherry and Whites in the summer, added six points with the boot having been given kicking duties for the first time this season and also picked up a yellow card in an eventful personal game.

He and half-back partner Williams have been pivotal in Gloucester’s transformation into one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league, with a sixth consecutive attacking bonus point secured to sign off the opening block of Gallagher Premiership games.

Skivington said: “I thought our Welshmen were great again.

“I think Freddie Thomas particularly has been outstanding through this block. Max probably had a quieter game than he has in recent games but he was still brilliant at his moments.

“Tomos has been outstanding and, unfortunately, Gareth missed last week (with concussion) but he was in the flow as well.

“I think it’s great they’re all going off to camp. I hope they’ll feel Gatland’s intensity for a couple of games and then come back and bring a few bits with them. It’s great we’ve got those lads going there. We’d like some more going to England as well, but that will come.”

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Moriarty learns fate

Wales international Ross Moriarty has learned the injury he picked up playing for Brive on Friday night is not as bad as first feared.

Moriarty looked to be in agony as the French side's game was stopped and medical professionals rushed to tend to him, with anxious team-mates looking on.

The horror incident looked serious, with a bad leg or ankle injury feared but Brive have now released an update on the former Dragons and Gloucester man, with the prognosis not as bad as originally feared.

Publishing an update on Instagram, the club wrote: "Assuring exams this morning, no fracture for Ross Moriarty after his outing last night.

"After a period of rest, our third line will be up and running in a few weeks. Get well soon Ross."

Local press report the exiled Wales man will be out until December.

Halaholo heartache

Former Wales international Willis Halaholo suffered late heartbreak as his new team in New Zealand suffered a narrow extra-time defeat in the NPC final.

Halaholo had been instrumental in getting Bay of Plenty to their first ever final against Wellington, and started the final at inside centre in Wellington.

Callum Harkin's 93rd-minute penalty secured a 23-20 win after former All Blacks sensation Julian Savea had scored two tries earlier in the match.

Bay of Plenty players sank to the turf as the final whistle blew. It was Wellington's sixth national title and their second in three years.

England star injured at training camp

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

Ollie Chessum has emerged as a major doubt for England’s autumn opener against New Zealand on November 2 because of a knee problem.

Chessum suffered the injury during the squad’s training camp in Girona last week and the PA news agency understands he is undergoing scans, the final results of which should be known on Sunday.

The 24-year-old is now sweating on his availability not only for the All Blacks’ visit to Allianz Stadium, but also the remainder of the campaign against Australia, South Africa and Japan.

If ruled out, the Leicester back five forward would be a significant loss to head coach Steve Borthwick.

Chessum provides options in the second and back rows and it was at blindside flanker where he made a strong finish to this year’s Six Nations with impressive displays against Ireland and France.

He would have toured Japan and New Zealand in the summer with the expectation of adding to his 23 caps, only to be sidelined by shoulder and thumb issues that needed surgery.

A recipient of one of 17 enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts announced on Friday, he could now be facing another lengthy interruption to his Test career.

Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell has already been ruled out of the autumn because of a neck injury and there is uncertainty over the return dates of George Ford and Fraser Dingwall.

Centre Henry Slade is aiming to prove his fitness after shoulder surgery in Exeter’s clash with Harlequins on Sunday in what will be his first appearance of the season.

Leicester director of rugby Michael Cheika revealed that Chessum is facing a lay-off, although he was unable to provide a time frame for his return.

“It’s disappointing but guys have got to train, they’ve got to prepare for the season. It happens. If you’re going to play footy, that can happen,” said Cheika, speaking after the Tigers’ 32-29 victory at Saracens on Saturday.