Delve turned down a summer tour with Wales to be fully fit for Gloucester

Gloucester number eight Gareth Delve has welcomed changes to the club's ethos since Bryan Redpath took over as head coach at Kingsholm.

Redpath replaced Dean Ryan in June and has since made 26-year-old Delve joint captain along with Mike Tindall.

"The direction that was set under Dean was one we were on for a few years," Delve told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"Bryan's trying to take the best of that, cut out the things that didn't work so well and add his own slant."

The Wales international added: "We need to take ownership of our performances and try and create things and I think that'll bode well with the squad that we've got."

With Tindall injured at the end of the 2008-09 season, Delve's return to form and leadership was one of the few plus points for Gloucester in an otherwise disappointing run-in.

The first job you can always do is get down there and do your own work. Gareth Delve

However, Delve feels he still has plenty to learn about captaincy and how to combine it with his duties in the Cherry and Whites' back row.

"You need to know what buttons to push with the right guys, that's something that comes with experience and playing with the lads and learning what makes people tick," he said.

"The first job you can always do is get down there and do your own work and make those hard yards, try and make your tackles and put your body on the line.

"There's no reason why one person should care any more than the next man."

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