Gloucester’s all-English semi

GLOUCESTER guaranteed a Challenge Cup semi-final against Newcastle when they beat Connacht in an eight-try thriller. Last year’s runners-up ran out 33-28 winners in their quarter-final in Galway on Saturday to book a home clash with their Aviva Premiership rivals. Johan Ackermann, the Cherry and Whites’ head coach, said: ‘The heart rate is up and there are a few more grey hairs but I’m grateful we walked away with it.’ The other semi-final will be between Cardiff Blues and Pau with the final in Bilbao on May 11.