Leinster managed to cling onto their lead and fend off a late surge to clinch a place in this year’s Champions Cup final, overcoming Toulon 29-25 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. The Irish province, still reeling from four consecutive European Cup final defeats, will now meet either the defending champions Bordeaux-Begles or the English Premiership champions Bath in the showdown scheduled for May 23.
The match was anything but straightforward. Early in the second half, Leinster found themselves reduced to fourteen men after two players received yellow cards, while Toulon launched a frantic, points‑rich comeback in the closing stages. Despite these challenges, the home side held firm. In the opening half, Leinzer’s flankers Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier each crossed the line for a try, and centre Garry Ringrose added another score.
Captain Caelan Doris also found the try‑line, while fly‑half Harry Byrne contributed a penalty and three successful conversions, building a modest lead for the hosts. Toulon never faded into the background. By halftime they were only three points behind, and a pair of late‑game tries pulled them back into contention. Their points came from Seta Tuicuvu, Baptiste Serin, and Gael Drean, complemented by two penalties and two conversions from Melvyn Jaminet.
Both Byrne and Jaminet missed early penalty chances, with Jaminet’s attempt coming from just inside his own half. Leinster then capitalised after a series of sustained attacking phases, with Van der Flier and scrum‑half Jamison Gibson‑Park coming close to adding to the tally. Eventually, Conan powered through a tired Toulon defence to score, and Byrne added the conversion.
Leinster suffered a significant setback early on when centre Robbie Henshaw appeared to lose consciousness after a tackle. Play was halted for six minutes while Henshaw received medical attention, was placed on a stretcher, and was taken off the field. Jaminet soon found his range, slotting a penalty to narrow the gap.
Leinster continued to press, only to be denied a second try when Gibson‑Park’s effort was disallowed after a knock‑on in the build‑up. A second Jaminet penalty made the score 7‑6 in Toulon's favour, but Leinster remained patient. Eight minutes before the break, Van der Flier collected a pass from Doris and scored a well‑crafted try, with Byrne converting to restore the lead.
Leinster’s momentum was briefly interrupted when prop Andrew Porter received a yellow card for a head‑to‑head clash with Toulon number eight Mikheil Shioshvili. Toulon responded swiftly, with Tuicuvu scoring an early try.
The referee, Luke Pearce, then issued a second yellow card, this time to Byrne, leaving Leinster with two men down as they headed into the interval with a 14‑11 advantage. The numerical disadvantage lasted roughly five minutes of the second half.
Toulon’s hooker Teddy Baubigny was also shown a yellow card after a head‑on collision with Van der Flier, bringing the teams back to even numbers. Leinster seized the moment, advancing the ball deep into Toulon territory and creating space for Ringrose, who collected his third try of the match. Byrne added another penalty, extending Leinster’s lead.
With thirteen minutes remaining, Doris capped a sustained pressure spell with a try, and Byrne’s conversion pushed the score further ahead. Toulon fought back when substitute scrum‑half Serin scored a try in the 70th minute, which Jaminet converted.
Gael Drean then added another try, narrowing the margin, but Leinster’s earlier points proved enough. The final whistle confirmed Leinster’s ninth appearance in a Champions Cup final, a testament to their resilience and depth despite injuries and disciplinary setbacks.
Their victory sets up a compelling clash with either Bordeaux‑Begles or Bath, promising another thrilling chapter in European club rugby. Overall, the match showcased the high‑stakes drama of elite rugby: tactical kicking, powerful forward play, swift back‑line movements, and the ever‑present impact of discipline.
Leinster’s ability to absorb pressure, adapt to reduced numbers, and still produce decisive scores underlines why they remain a dominant force in the competition. As the final approaches, both potential opponents will need to study Leinster’s blend of structured set‑piece dominance and inventive back‑line flair, while Leinster will look to build on the confidence gained from this hard‑fought victory.