How did the Top14 become rugby’s answer to the Premier League?
The Counter Ruck Podcast
The Counter Ruck Podcast
French top-tier league has on and off-field buoyancy like no other league in the world
Leo Cullen’s side would bag a top seeding if the French giants can complete the double
A worrying cohort of referees appear dependent on their TMO comfort blanket
Before last week’s final, in a straw poll conducted across several former Leinster players, they all believed that Toulouse would win
The Counter Ruck Podcast
Leinster's attack just lacked that clinical edge that was required to nudge them over the line to Champions Cup glory
Leo Cullen’s Leinster panel could do with a URC title more than ever now after third successive Champions Cup final loss
Owen Doyle: Antoine Dupont makes the crucial difference for Toulouse but for Leinster losing three consecutive Champions Cup finals is the stuff of sporting nightmares
The Brennans and Ntamacks are the only two father-son combinations to achieve the feat in its 29-year history
Toulouse’s Jack Willis has game to remember in Champions Cup final
Jamie Osborne and Joe McCarthy are young players who can only gain from the experience
This was only the third final to be decided in extra-time and as in 1996 against Cardiff in the Arms Park and 2005 against Stade Francais in Murrayfield, Toulouse emerged triumphant again
Marginal calls; Toulouse repel Leinster maul; Frawley’s high stakes hit and miss; Leinster fail to exploit extra man; time for a TMO shot clock?
Toulouse have won the last nine finals they have played in thanks to their ‘legendary ability to bend without breaking’
Leinster head coach and senior players confident they can rebound from their latest Champions Cup final defeat
Talk of refocusing on the URC campaign rang hollow after a third straight Champions Cup final defeat
It is not in Leinster’s character to be so feckless with the ball, as they were beaten in Champions Cup final
Antoine Dupont was the difference between the sides as French side prevail after extra-time
Irish province beaten by French side in extra time in what was a bitter defeat
No match-up in club rugby could provide such a clash of scrum-halves and hookers
Province edges head-to-head eight to six, but have since added two more semi-final wins at the Aviva in last two seasons
The Champions Cup pits the best two scrumhalves in the world against each other; victory could depend on which manages to exert more influence
Toulouse have become far too familiar with extra-time ties for comfort; Discipline a key for the French side in years gone past
Teams such as the Bulls fielding weakened sides has harmed competitive balance while the jury is still out on South Africa’s participation
Leinster likely to flood ruck and blitz as tactic proved effective when limiting La Rochelle’s powerful forward carriers
Leinster opt for a 6-2 forward split on the bench, as Ciarán Frawley is preferred to Jimmy O’Brien
All you need to know ahead of Saturday’s European decider at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London
Whoever responds best to rugby’s oldest question could prevail in Saturday’s Champions Cup final
Scotland international appears to have recovered from a broken nose meaning he is the favourite to once again pip his French counterpart
No longer a fringe player, the 23-year-old says this season’s progress to the Champions Cup final ‘means a little more’
Hugo Keenan and James Ryan both set to feature after recovering from injury while Garry Ringrose looks likely to miss out
The Counter Ruck podcast: Nathan Johns and Gordon D’Arcy discuss a busy week in rugby
Rugby trumps the local market in France, predictable Leinster and Toulouse’s officiating edge
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Full general election coverage including analysis and results for all 43 constituencies
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices