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Rugby

23rd Apr 2017

WATCH: Richard Hibbard gets punched in the nads and is accused of faking it

Adding insult to an already painful injury

Sean McMahon

The Cherry and Whites are into the European Challenge Cup final.

It hasn’t been a great domestic season for Gloucester.

They are currently in eighth position in the Aviva Premiership but they may yet still play in the Champions Cup next season.

If they finish seventh, they will enter a playoff for a Champions Cup spot.

They could end up vying it out against Connacht for that elusive final place.

However, on the European front, they are having a good season.

They have reached the final of the Challenge Cup after a brilliant victory against Top14 leaders and surprise package, La Rochelle.

The English side won 16-14 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre, ending the home side’s 15-match unbeaten run in the process.

Former Ireland outhalf, David Humphreys, is Director of Rugby of the Gloucestershire club and he would have been pleased to see his number 10, Billy Burns, score all his side’s points to ensure victory.

There was one moment in the game when Gloucester and former British & Irish Lions hooker, Richard Hibbard, was punched in the nether region by La Rochelle’s Jone Qovu.

The Fijian international throws a low uppercut into Hibbard’s privates and the Welshman hits the deck almost immediately.

The worst thing about it all was that the referee thought he was faking it.

“I don’t appreciate you throwing yourself on the ground. This is the wrong sport for that,” the referee told Hibbard.

Just to add further insult to injury.

But we’re sure Qovu will be cited and Hibbard can look forward to a European final against Stade Francais or Bath.