World record crowd witness Leinster win

On its debut in the tournament, Dublin's iconic sporting arena grabbed the headlines not only for a stunning match and occasion, but also for overtaking Twickenham Stadium's two previous world best crowds.

The 2007 Heineken Cup final between London Wasps and Leicester Tigers had taken the world record to 81,076 before the re-match between the two sides in the Premiership final last year saw the figure rise to 81,600.

But the Munster and Leinster fans joined forces to add more than 600 to that 2008 landmark and give the Heineken Cup and Irish rugby another statistic of which to to feel very proud

Andswith a crowd of around 50,000 expected to turn up at the Millennium Stadium for Sunday's second semi-final between Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers, more than 130,000 fans will have witnessed the four best teams in European club rugby battle for the right to reach the final at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday, 23 May.