Gloucester Rugby coach David Humphreys has admitted that his side are not ready to play in the European Rugby Champions Cup following their playoff defeat to Bordeaux Begles.
A last-gasp loss at Kingsholm Stadium on Sunday denied Gloucester a place in European club rugby's top competition for next season.
However, Humphreys believes that his team's defeat proves that they are not yet at the required level to play among Europe's elite.
"Nobody likes to lose a game, especially of that importance, in that manner, but I think you have to give credit to Bordeaux," he is quoted as saying by the Western Daily Press.
"Of course we are disappointed, and when we reflect on the game, the game should have been dead and buried at half time. We had a great opportunity to score, but turned the ball over and they went 90 metres to a score and it's a one-score game.
"But we didn't win so we don't deserve to be in the Champions Cup. Next year with 28 games in a row, with Europe and the Premiership on consecutive weekends, the clubs with depth of squad will be the clubs that compete on both fronts. I'm not sure we're there yet and not winning against Bordeaux proves we're not ready."
Gloucester finished the season in ninth place in the Aviva Premiership table.
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