Toulon end Gloucester hopes at Kingsholm

Gloucester 14-31 Toulon, Kingsholm

Gloucester Rugby’s Investec Champions Cup campaign came to an end as RC Toulon claimed a 31-14 victory at Kingsholm in the final pool-stage fixture.

With results elsewhere in the pool, the Cherry and Whites knew that only a win or a four-try draw would be enough to progress, but the French side delivered a clinical performance to shut the door on qualification.

Gloucester started brightly and spent much of the opening five minutes in Toulon territory, but early pressure failed to produce points.

Toulon struck first after a Gloucester knock-on at the breakdown resulted in an attacking scrum 10 metres out. From the base, the ball was moved wide for Gaël Dréan to finish in the corner. Marius Domon converted to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Momentum swung further Toulon’s way soon after as Mathis Ferté crossed in the opposite corner to complete a quick-fire second try, with Domon again accurate from the tee to make it 14-0.

Gloucester responded after sustained pressure of their own. Following multiple penalties, Charlie Atkinson kicked to the corner and from the resulting maul Jack Clement broke away, shrugged off defenders and powered over. George Barton converted to reduce the deficit to 14-7.

Toulon restored control just before the break. After kicking a scrum penalty five metres out, the visitors set up another maul, with Lewis Ludlam emerging as the scorer. Domon’s conversion sent Toulon into half-time with a 21-7 advantage.

The second half began at a slower tempo. Gloucester went close through Zach Mercer, but he lost the ball forward while stretching for the line. Toulon then extended their lead early in the final quarter as Domon slotted a penalty to make it 24-7.

Gloucester gave themselves brief hope when Tomos Williams chased a loose kick and grounded the ball after Toulon failed to control it. Barton converted to cut the gap to 10 points with ten minutes remaining.

Any comeback hopes were ended late on as Toulon applied one final surge. Gaël Dréan crossed in the corner for his second try of the night, and Domon added the conversion with the final kick to seal a 31-14 win.

The result confirmed Toulon’s progression and brought Gloucester’s Champions Cup pool campaign to a close.