Fly-half Siya Masuku contributed 21 points for the Durban-based team as their forward pack, rich with Springbok talent, asserted dominance throughout the entire 80 minutes. Phepsi Buthelezi scored the lone try of the first half, while Caolan Englefield managed a single penalty for Gloucester.

In the second half, Aphelele Fassi and Makazole Mapimpi added two more tries. Although the Cherry and Whites attempted a late comeback with Albert Tuisue, Santiago Socino, and Freddie Clarke crossing the try line, it proved insufficient. The victory secures the Sharks' place in the Champions Cup next season, while Gloucester missed the opportunity to add to their two previous title wins in 2009 and 2015, marking their fifth appearance in the final.

This match only marks the Sharks' second appearance in European club competitions. They were invited last season but were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup. The triumph comes amidst a disappointing league campaign for the Sharks, who currently sit 13th in the United Rugby Championship with one game left.

Similarly, Gloucester arrived in London following a challenging Premiership season, finishing ninth. The defeat is likely to increase pressure on director of rugby George Skivington ahead of a summer review by the club board. Despite their league struggles, Gloucester's cup performance has been noteworthy, having already won the Premiership Rugby Cup in March. They were eager to claim their third Challenge Cup title, maintaining an unbeaten record in European matches this season.

"I’m really proud of the lads, to get to a final is hard and we made a pretty bold decision to try and get here," Skivington told reporters post-match. "Unfortunately we were good in the first 10 and didn’t quite get anything and good in the last 10, and Sharks managed to make it a slow set-piece physical game, which is exactly what we didn’t want.

"But the boys hung in there. To keep competing with that physicality is tough and those lads have done that to some of the best teams in the world and that’s not really the way we needed to go. I think we’ll rue a couple of those early misses but the middle part of the game they just had full control of.

"Tough to swallow, it’s gutting but I’m proud of the lads. I’d be more upset if the lads hadn’t thrown everything into it but tonight they sucked us into their gameplan and beat us."

Following his side's victory, Sharks skipper Eben Etzebeth stated, "We knew in a couple of years’ time no one will remember the final they will remember the champions. That was our big drive to win this cup, to put a silver lining on our season. If you told us at the start of the season you’ll win the Challenge Cup and qualify for Champions Cup next year we would probably have taken it. 

"We want to be measured against the best teams in the world and we all know that is in the Champions Cup - but tonight was special, it felt we left our best performance for last. The guys were just incredible, the physicality, everyone out there put their body on the line. It was an incredible feeling."