Summary

  1. Until tomorrow...published at 22:12 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    Sharks lift the European Challenge CupImage source, PA Media

    And that's where we'll leave things tonight.

    You can read Sophie Hurcom's report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by clicking here.

    It wasn't to be for Gloucester, but they'll take plenty of heart heading into next season.

    Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday weekend!

  2. To the European Champions Cup finalpublished at 22:09 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    Leinster v Toulouse (14:45 BST)

    We'll be back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday for the final of the European Champions Cup.

    Last year's finalists Leinster take on five-time champions Toulouse.

    We'll have all the action across the BBC Sport website and app.

  3. Postpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Double World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth lifts the trophy high amidst the fireworks.

    Sharks are the 2023-24 European Challenge Cup winners.

  4. Postpublished at 22:03 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    And now the South Africans step forward to collect their medals before lifting the trophy.

    Plenty of smiles of course.

    They'll be in the European Champions Cup next season because of their victory in London. You wouldn't be surprised if they did some damage in the elite competition on tonight's showing.

  5. 'The Sharks came to play'published at 22:02 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It's that World Cup winning front five. Just unbelievable power and then some dexterity to score their try.

    It finished well. The game finished end-to-end which is great for the fans.

    They will be hurting from the scoreline but for a debut win for a South African team in this competition, the Sharks came to play and they will be taking home the spoils.

  6. Postpublished at 22:01 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Gloucester players with their runners-up medalsImage source, PA Media

    Gloucester's players are collecting their runners-up medals. Some weary looking faces.

    That was a hugely physical contest against a brute of a Sharks side.

  7. 'We didn't get a foothold'published at 21:59 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington told TNT Sports:

    "It's tough to swallow, we've got some quality blokes leaving us next year.

    "The guys have put a lot in, worked really hard to get to this final, we didn't really get a foothold in the game.

    "We started well and we finished well but between that we got sucked into a battle of scrums."

  8. 'Sharks the better side'published at 21:57 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Sophie Hurcom
    BBC Sport at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

    Gloucester's Jonny May after the end of his final game for the clubImage source, PA Media

    The Sharks players on the bench were already popping the champagne before the referee had officially blown the final whistle.

    There's a lot of despondent looks among the Gloucester players, who have all just gathered in a circle with their arms around each other.

    Director of rugby George Skivington is standing on his own watching on, with his hands on his hips.

    They can't really have any complaints about the result. On the night, the Sharks were just simply the better side.

  9. 'It says a lot about the group'published at 21:55 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Simon Devereux
    Former Gloucester forward on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

    Gloucester stuck at it. In the end, they could have folded and it could have been a 50 or 60 pointer so that says a lot for the group.

    Two things for me; quality and getting punished by pace and power.

    You go right back to the scrum in the first half. Four scrums, four penalties.

  10. Postpublished at 21:54 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Sharks make a bit of history by becoming the first South African side to win a European trophy since they were introduced to the two competitions a couple of seasons ago.

  11. Postpublished at 21:52 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    FT: Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Gloucester will probably feel they lost the game before the break when they had no answers to Sharks' scrum, giving away penalty after penalty.

    They improved after the break, but that's when Sharks began to show their quality in the backline as well and pulled clear.

  12. Full-timepublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    Gloucester 22-36 Sharks

    Sharks celebrate at full-timeImage source, PA Media

    The European Challenge Cup is heading to South Africa!

    Gloucester left it too late with a couple of tries at the end after being dominated for long stretches by an excellent Sharks side.

    Some broken Gloucester hearts out there.

  13. try

    Try: Gloucester 22-36 Sharkspublished at 79 mins

    Freddie Clarke, missed con Hastings

    And another!

    Gloucester suddenly find themselves three on one against a tiring Sharks defence - Ollie Thorley picks out Freddie Clarke bursting down the wing and he dives into the corner.

    Adam Hastings pulls the conversion wide, but it doesn't matter as we enter the final minute.

  14. Postpublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    Gloucester 17-36 Sharks

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    There's no way Gloucester can clinch it but they are going down swinging.

  15. try

    Try: Gloucester 17-36 Sharkspublished at 76 mins

    Santi Socino, con Hastings

    Santiago Socino scores for GloucesterImage source, PA Media

    Something to smile about!

    Gloucester work the ball wide, Freddie Clarke palms it back in to Santi Socino who crosses.

    It's too little too late as Adam Hastings adds the conversion, but the crowd enjoyed it.

  16. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Gloucester 10-36 Sharks

    34,761 inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight.

    Most of them wanted to see a victory for the side in cherry and white, but it's not to be.

    Meanwhile Jonny May comes off on his final appearance for Gloucester. Not how he wanted to leave things.

  17. 'I can't see a reason'published at 21:41 British Summer Time 24 May 2024

    Gloucester 10-36 Sharks

    Paul Furley
    BBC Radio Gloucestershire sports editor

    Was Stephen Varney behind Jonny May when he got the assist for the try? Looking at that replay on the big screen, yes I think he was.

    On that basis, unless there was any interference, I can't see any reason for that to be disallowed.

  18. Disallowed try: Gloucester 10-36 Sharkspublished at 72 mins

    Scratched off.

    Stephen Varney was offside from Adam Hastings' original kick, so it won't count.

    That sort of sums up Gloucester's night.

  19. try

    Try: Gloucester 15-36 Sharkspublished at 72 mins

    Stephen Varney

    Gloucester's Stephen Varney touches down but his effort was ruled out for offsideImage source, Reuters

    That is wonderful!

    Jonny May volleys the ball over the top and Stephen Varney races onto it to score.

    But they're just checking if Varney was offside...

  20. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Gloucester 10-36 Sharks

    I've not seen much of Sharks before, but I've been hugely impressed.

    They're a side sprinkled with World Cup winners, and it's shown.

    They've had too much for Gloucester as they switch up their front row.

    It's been a front row that has completely dominated in all aspects.