Gloucester lift Premiership Rugby Cup with comeback victory over Leicester

Gloucester lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup for the first time with a 23-13 comeback victory over Leicester at Kingsholm.

Leicester led 6-0 through two penalties from World Cup winner Handre Pollard but indiscipline would cost the Tigers dear.

Former Gloucester hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas was yellow carded for slowing the ball down on the deck and Lloyd Evans’ kick cut the deficit to three on the stroke of half-time.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Hacjivah Dayimani’s exclusion from the first alignment camp

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Hacjivah Dayimani’s exclusion from the first alignment camp

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus explains why Stormers star Hacjivah Dayimani was not included in the recent alignment camp in Cape Town.

Leicester were reduced to 13 when Mike Brown was sent to the sin-bin soon after the restart and Gloucester capitalised with two tries in three minutes from Seb Atkinson and Cameron Jordan.

George Barton, who was back on the field after a first-half HIA, converted both tries and added two penalties as Gloucester galloped to a 23-6 lead.

The Cherry and Whites were themselves a man short in the closing stages after Jordan was sent to the sin bin as he attempted to keep some late Tigers pressure at bay.

But Hanro Liebenberg’s try – converted by Pollard – was nothing more than a consolation for Leicester as Gloucester ended a nine-year wait for silverware.