Leinster lifted their first trophy since 2021 after a convincing 32-7 BKT United Rugby Championship grand ultimate win over the Bulls at Croke Park.
The moist climate failed to discourage an attendance of 46,127 – a file for a league decider in Eire – as Leo Cullen’s males turned the primary table-topping crew to win the title within the URC period.
Regardless of Jamison Gibson-Park’s pre-match withdrawal, Leinster roared right into a 19-0 half-time lead with tries from captain Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh van der Flier.
Crushed finalists in 2022 and 2024, the Bulls crossed within the fiftieth minute by way of substitute Akker van der Merwe to cancel out a Sam Prendergast penalty.
Prendergast took his haul to 10 factors and substitute Fintan Gunne’s closing strive was fittingly transformed by the Gloucester-bound Ross Byrne.
Conan pointed the best way for the hosts with a fifth-minute strive, crashing over following an preliminary maul and Prendergast shortly transformed.
Departing All Black Barrett bought his proper boot to Luke McGrath’s deft dink within the thirteenth minute, opening up the Bulls’ back-field to brilliantly rating beside the posts.
Van der Flier emerged by way of a maul to make it 19-0, as penalties continued to show pricey for the Bulls.
The South Africans lastly bought some momentum, battering away earlier than Willie le Roux was responsible of a poor kick after which a ahead go.
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Have a look again on the most iconic moments from the previous 25 years of the Lions Tour.
Though Prendergast opened the second-half scoring, the guests hit again when Van der Merwe drove over for Johan Goosen to transform.
It remained 22-7 with the Irish province failing to capitalise on a faucet penalty, whereas Prendergast pushed one other one large.
The younger fly-half was again on track within the 67th minute and Gunne then scored from a neat wraparound transfer – a superb end to the marketing campaign for Leinster’s 12 British and Irish Lions representatives.
British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities
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Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia solely reside on Sky Sports activities this summer season.
Sky Sports activities will solely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Checks in opposition to the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven solely reside.
