Gloucester Rugby head coach George Skivington delivered a sobering assessment following his team’s 31-14 defeat to Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup, which saw the injury-hit side eliminated from the competition. The loss at Kingsholm meant Gloucester finished at the bottom of Pool Two, failing to secure even a consolation Challenge Cup spot.
Toulon dominated from the outset, with early tries from wings Gael Drean and Mathis Ferte setting the tone. Gloucester struggled to mount a serious comeback, conceding another try from flanker Lewis Ludlam in a one-sided first half. Drean’s late 80th-minute try sealed a bonus-point victory for the French side, who will host their next round of 16 match.
Despite determined efforts and tries from Jack Clement and Tomos Williams, Gloucester were outmatched by the depth and power of their opponents. Toulon’s triumph, coupled with wins from Bath and Castres, allowed Edinburgh to advance alongside those sides from Pool Two.
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Skivington acknowledged the gulf in class and experience, stating, “We got punched out in a few positions, that’s the reality. Some of their players are world-class, and some of our lads are still learning their trade. That really showed tonight.”
He praised the team’s resilience, saying, “The boys did some really good stuff and left everything out there. They were heroic in defense and in their work rate. Going behind early makes it easy to drop your heads, but they fought back.”
However, the Gloucester boss admitted that experience and physicality ultimately swung the contest away from his side. Looking ahead to their next fixture against Gallagher Premiership champions Bath, Skivington revealed the squad’s injury woes show no signs of easing soon.
“We are strapped in a lot of positions at the moment. We haven’t got anyone coming back in the next couple of weeks,” he explained. “It’s frustrating, but screaming and shouting won’t change it. We have to stay positive, work hard, and learn from these lessons.”
Skivington committed to focusing on development despite the setbacks. “Some of the young guys learnt valuable lessons tonight. The key is that we don’t just park them; we move forward.”