No direct entry to cup takes gloss off prize, says David Humphreys

David Humphreys, the Gloucester director of rugby, believes that the European
Challenge Cup has lost some credibility because the winners of tonight’s
final at the Twickenham Stoop will not be rewarded with automatic entry to
the Champions Cup.



If Gloucester defeat Edinburgh, they will enter a three-way play-off for the
last Champions Cup place along with the teams who finish seventh in the
Guinness PRO12 and the French Top 14.



It is perfectly feasible, given the standings, that Gloucester’s reward for a
victory over Edinburgh would be a play-off meeting with the same opponents
o…