18 May, 15:44
It's down to the wire now for the five contenders who have been shortlisted for the ultimate individual accolade in northern hemisphere rugby, ERC European Player of the Year 2013.
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14 May, 15:49
With the build-up to the Dublin 2013 European club rugby finals intensifying by the day, the four elite clubs of ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulon, Leinster Rugby and Stade Francais Paris, who are focused on their quest for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup silverware respectively, won't be the only clubs with Europe on their mind over the weekend of 17 and 18 May.
2 May, 18:59
Benoit August of Biarritz Olympique and Perpignan's Daniel Leo have been suspended for four weeks and two weeks respectively following citing complaints arising from last weekend's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals.
Heineken Cup
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18 May, 21:07
No sooner had he lifted the Heineken Cup than Jonny Wilkinson switched his focus on to the next task - trying to keep Toulon on course for a European Cup and Top 14 double.
18 May, 20:59
Bernard Laporte celebrated Toulon's 21-year wait for another trophy - but admitted he had had his doubts they would go on and lift the Heineken Cup when ASM Clermont Auvergne went nine points clear with over half an hour to play.
18 May, 19:33
Delon Armitage scored Toulon's match-winning try - but never had a doubt that Jonny Wilkinson would kick the conversion that would give them the lead for the first time with just minutes to spare.
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Amlin Challenge Cup
Amlin Challenge Cup
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18 May, 10:54
This one is for Joe and Isa - that was the tribute Amlin Man of the Match Jonny Sexton paid to his coach and team-mate in the wake of their 34-13 Amlin Challenge Cup final triumph over Stade Francais Paris at the RDS.
17 May, 23:37
There was another dose of European disappointment for Sergio Parisse and his team but the Stade Francais Paris captain paid handsome tribute to Leinster following their 34-13 victory at the RDS.
17 May, 23:15
Now for the elusive double - that was the defiant message from Joe Schmidt after they had lifted the third European title of his reign.
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News
Heroes welcome for Leo's Leinster
22 May 2011 22:13pm
By
There was a heroes welcome for the Leinster players at RDS
Dan Sheridan
© INPHO
There was a heroes return for Leo Cullen and his Leinster team at their home ground, RDS, as more than 5,000 fans turned up to salute the epic second half fight back in Cardiff that earned them a second Heineken Cup triumph in three years.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Gerry Breen, was on hand to welcome home Europe's top club rugby team and heap praise on them all for the way in which they stuck to their guns to topple Northampton Saints 33-22.
And there was a chilling warning to anyone hoping to follow in Leinster's footsteps next season from the man who guided them to a repeat of their 2009 triumph.
"This isn't the end for this team, but merely a stepping stone to more success. This Leinster squad wants to create its own history and that's why they will be throwing everything into the chance of doing the double at the weekend," said Leinster coach Joe Schmidt.
The Heineken Cup winners have to travel to face arch-rivals Munster in the Celtic League Grand Final at a sold-out Thomond Park on Saturday to try to become only the fourth club to complete a domestic league and European Cup double and join Toulouse, Leicester Tigers (twice) and London Wasps in that elite club..
"The second time you win something is often meant to be the sweeter than the first because you have been there and done it and people expect. They know you are coming and you have produced it before," admitted Brian O'Driscoll.
"It wasn't easy to get through the Pool we were in and when you are sitting in the dressing room at half time and you are 16 points down, yet you come back with an 11 point victory I think there is something special about that and there is something very special about this side.
"Hopefully, we can grow and not sit back and accept that two Heineken Cups is the be all and end all, but drive on and be a team to be reckoned with and create something very special for the future.
"Now we have an opportunity to go to Thomond Park and make up for what happened four or five weeks ago and attempt to go after a double that I don't think has been achieved before.
"We are very much looking forward to that. It's going to be a very hard tussle down there as always, but it is always nice travelling having been crowned European champions the week before.
"The win in Cardiff is very high up there on my list of achievements, but I'm not going to give out gold, silver or bronze to different occasions. But it's right up there with the most memorable things I have done."
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18 May 13
Get the final words pf both coaches and captains ahead of the biggest club game of their careers. Press Confernce with Toulon and ASM
16 May 13
Finals Edition: Listen to the best guide to the European Rugby Cup Finals weekend in Dublin, which sees Leinster Rugby take on Stade Francais Paris at the RDS on Friday night in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final and then ASM Clermont Auvergne tackle Toulon in an all-French affair at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
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