Gloucester secure place in last eight

Gloucester reached the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup with a 30-25 victory against Castres at Kingsholm.

Julien Dumora wasted no time drawing first blood for the visitors with a try in the first minute converted by Pierre Popelin.

However, Gloucester pulled one back through Zach Mercer with Santiago Carreras adding the extras before winger Jonny May put them in front in the 27th minute and Carreras converted.

Max Llewellyn added another try just four minutes later with Carreras converting and although two Popelin penalties either side of half-time reduced Gloucester’s lead, Carreras soon restored their 14-point advantage with two penalty kicks of his own.

Castres threatened a late comeback in the 72nd minute with Loris Zarantonello scoring from a driving maul, with Popelin kicking the extras and after missing a drop goal two minutes later, Carreras kicked a penalty in the 79th minute.

The visitors kept pushing in the final stages with Josaia Raisuqe crossing in the 82nd minute but Popelin missed the conversion.

Gloucester, who have already won the Premiership Rugby Cup, will face either Sale or Ospreys in a home quarter-final.

The remainder of the Challenge Cup last 16 ties take place across the rest of the weekend.

Today, there are four further ties. Clermont are at home to the Cheetahs, the Lions travel to Benetton, Edinburgh host Bayonne while Ospreys are at home to Sale.

Tomorrow, Montpellier are up against Ulster, it's Sharks v Zebre before the card concludes with Pau against Connacht.

It is anticipated that the final dates and kick-off times for the matches will be announced within 24 hours of the final whistle in Pau.