With just two games left in Pool A of the Premiership Rugby Cup, Gloucester Rugby finds themselves in a critical position. The format dictates that three teams will vie for two semi-final spots—a scenario accurately described as “three must go into two.” After a heavy 48-14 loss to table-topping Exeter Chiefs last Saturday, Gloucester, currently third in the pool, must now walk a tightrope to secure a place in the knockout stages.
Gloucester’s first crucial match comes this Friday at Kingsholm against Sale Sharks, who have already been mathematically eliminated from the competition. A win here is essential to keep their hopes alive for a final-round showdown against second-placed Bath at the Rec, a West Country derby that will likely decide who advances.
Scrum coach Trevor Woodman acknowledged the challenge ahead: “It is going to be a tough little journey. We have Sale at home; if we can win that one, it will set us up for a good game at Bath. They know we’re still in it, so it’s going to be a three-way shoot-out now.”
READ MORE: 11 Gloucestershire Areas on Flood Watch as Heavy Rainfall Continues
READ MORE: Teacher at £25k-a-year Private School Banned for Dishonesty and Falsifying Qualifications
Adding to the drama, Exeter Chiefs will host Bath this weekend, meaning points are likely to be dropped between the top two. This opens up an opportunity for Gloucester to leapfrog a rival heading into the final weekend.
Despite Gloucester’s disappointing form this season—with the club ranking eighth in the Gallagher Premiership and having exited all European competitions—the fans have remained steadfast. The team’s struggles have been compounded by an injury crisis and what some see as cost-cutting in recruitment. Yet, the spirit and effort demonstrated on the pitch, especially in tight matches like the narrow 30-26 league loss to reigning champions Bath in January, have earned fan loyalty.
Still, Saturday’s defeat at Sandy Park left Woodman frustrated, particularly over the team’s energy and effort in the game’s final stages. He singled out a lack of intensity off the ball as the turning point that allowed Exeter to pull away decisively. “Our energy off the ball is something we have been pursuing,” Woodman said. “The lack of effort around breakdowns and next-phase work meant we couldn’t recover from mistakes. I told the players to look at their work rate—if they improve that, everything else will fall into place.”
For Gloucester to turn their season around and progress in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Woodman’s message on effort and work rate will be crucial. The team must raise their intensity when they return to Kingsholm to face the Sale Sharks and keep their semi-final hopes alive.