# Gloucester thrash Harlequins 48-0 to top the Prem

> Gloucester's eight tries and perfect defence send them to the top of the league as Harlequins remain pointless.
- Title: Gloucester thrash Harlequins 48-0 to top the Prem · BBC Sport
- Summary: Gloucester's eight tries and perfect defence send them to the top of the league as Harlequins remain pointless. Gloucester beat Harlequins forty-eight nil at…
- Keywords: gloucester rugby, harlequins rugby, premiership rugby, rugby union, kingsholm, sports, Gloucester, thrash, Harlequins, 48-0, top, Prem
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cw305gm8j591o
- Published: 2026-10-03T18:30:33.531+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: gloucester rugby, harlequins rugby, premiership rugby, rugby union, kingsholm, sports
## Gloucester run riot at Kingsholm
Gloucester thrashed Harlequins forty-eight nil on October third at Kingsholm to go to the top of the Premiership standings after two wins from two in the league.
## Eight tries from eight different scorers
The Cherry and Whites ran in eight tries through Loader, Morgan, Trenholm, C. Atkinson, S. Atkinson, Englefield, Joseph and Barton, with Barton converting four.
## Gloucester's new signings shine
Gloucester named three new signings in their starting line-up including Wales internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake, who completely outplayed Harlequins in all facets.
## Harlequins struggle from the start
Harlequins, who handed a debut to England full-back George Furbank, struggled to get a handle on the game from the outset and remain bottom without any points.
## Skivington praises defensive character
Gloucester head coach George Skivington told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that nilling a team shows character, praising defence coach Joel Tomkins's work getting the boys in that mindset.

> nilling a team is outstanding and that shows character more than anything
## Gilmore blames penalties and possession
Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore said the performance was totally unacceptable, citing a twenty-one to five penalty count that meant they struggled for possession and field position.

> The performance was totally unacceptable and you are not going to win a game with a 21-5 penalty count against you
## Second-half collapse sealed the result
Harlequins conceded two tries in the first four minutes after half-time, which Gilmore said took the wind out of their sails and put the result beyond doubt.
## Key takeaway

Gloucester beat Harlequins forty-eight nil at Kingsholm on October third, twenty twenty-six, with eight tries to go top of the Premiership after two wins from two.