Champions Cup final 2024 LIVE: Leinster vs Toulouse - live text updates, radio commentary & latest scores (2024)

Summary

Champions Cup final result: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse (after extra time)
Toulouse secure sixth Champions Cup despite Richie Arnold sending off in extra time
Leinster have lost three successive finals (and four in seven years)
Matthis Lebel try gave Toulouse lead at start of extra time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Josh van der Flier replied but two Thomas Ramos penalties sealed victory for French side
Ciaran Frawley penalty drew Leinster level in regulation time to cancel out Ramos' kick
Blair Kinghorn and Ross Byrne kicked four penalties apiece

Live Reporting

Jonathan Bradley

An instant classicpublished at 18:06 25 May
18:06 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse (AET)
What a final, a game that will live long in the memory.
European rugby's two most successful sides going head to head in a final for the first time and it more than lived up to its billing.
Antoine Dupont was again otherworldly but there were so many great performances across the board in a game that will have reminded many of a Test match.
Six titles for Toulouse now and you feel it'll be some time before anyone catches them...though Leinster do have RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett to bolster their bid for Champions Cup glory next season.
That's all for our live text coverage. You can read the report here and there will be plenty more reaction across the BBC.
Thanks for joining!
Image source, Inpho
'We're devastated'published at 17:57 25 May
17:57 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse (AET).
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen on ITV4: "We had plenty of opportunities.
"Our guys have poured a lot into this campaign and we've unbelievable support that follows us around.
"We're devastated we couldn't get over the line.
"Again, when you're in these moments of defeat, it's just about you show character. Our season isn't over.
"Two real quality teams going at it and Toulouse were probably just a bit more clinical."
Postpublished at 17:48 25 May
17:48 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse
Antoine Dupont may have deservedly been named Player of the Match but what a performance from Jack Willis.
Tackle after tackle from the former Wasps man.
Image source, Getty Images
'We wanted to do something that had never been done'published at 17:44 25 May
17:44 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse (AET)
Toulouse full-back Blair Kinghorn on ITV4: "I'm absolutely exhausted, the boys put in a hell of a shift.
"It's unbelievable, I'm lost for words. The boys dug in so deep and that second half of extra-time was enormous from us. "We talked about staying together. We wanted to do something that had never been done before, six stars. We dug in at the end and we've got the win.
"If you'd told me in November I'd be a Champions Cup winner, I'd not believe you and now here I am. Proud to be part of this team."
Image source, Inpho
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'An awesome team' - Dupontpublished at 17:40 25 May
17:40 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse
Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont:
"It is awesome to be able to win with this team. We really wanted to win the sixth star after losing to Leinster over the last two years.
"It's an awesome team and club and I just enjoy trying to do my best for them."
Image source, Inpho
'Defence won the game'published at 17:35 25 May
17:35 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse (AET)
Chris Ashton
Two-time Champions Cup winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Toulouse's defence won the game. The way they kept getting up off the floor for each other is why these trophies are won.
Leinster could not penetrate other than Van der Flier's try. They had so many opportunities but could not get over because of Toulouse's defence.
Toulouse are Champions Cup Champions!published at 17:32 25 May
17:32 25 May
FT: Leinster 22-31 Toulouse (AET)
Image source, Inpho
Full-time - Leinster 22-31 Toulousepublished at 17:31 25 May
17:31 25 May
Toulouse have done it again, still peerless in European competition as they win their sixth title.
Ugo Mola's side deserve immense credit for holding steady after Richie Arnold's red card, especially when Josh Van der Flier went over soon after.
Leinster more than played their part in what will go down as one of the great Champions Cup finals, but they'll rue all those fruitless trips to the '22'.
Three final defeats in three seasons, such heartbreak.
Image source, Getty Images
'Titanic Toulouse victory'published at 17:28 25 May
17:28 25 May
Leinster 22-31 Toulouse
Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The Toulouse coaches in front of us have started tocelebrate and are heading pitchside. They know their team has done it. One ofthe most titanic Champions Cup finals in history.
Postpublished at 97 minutes
97 minutes
Leinster 22-31 Toulouse
Leinster are throwing everything at this after winning a scrum penalty.
It's incredible how the physicality hasn't wavered and Toulouse are meeting them on the gainline time and time again.
They force the knock on out of Josh van der Flier and that might - just might - be that.
Image source, Getty Images
Man of the Match - Antoine Dupontpublished at 17:24 25 May
17:24 25 May
Leinster 22-31 Toulouse
Not what we'd call a typical Dupont performance but he's been immense here again and is named Player of the Match.
He'll have other more important things on his mind over the next three minutes, of course.
Image source, Getty Images
Dupont the differencepublished at 17:22 25 May
17:22 25 May
Leinster 22-31 Toulouse
Chris Ashton
Two-time Champions Cup winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
We haven't seen Dupont's attacking game today but he has made four or five match-defining turnovers. He's been a ball-stealing machine.
Penalty - Leinster 22-31 Toulousepublished at 94 mins
94 mins
Thomas Ramos
They'll have felt they had it virtually won in the seconds before Arnold's red but what an effort from Toulouse here to go again.
Cian Healy is whistled at the breakdown and, even with 14 men, Ramos nudges them two scores ahead for the second time in extra time ahead.
Just four minutes to go. It'll take something incredible from Leinster to turn around this classic final from here.
'Silly from Doris'published at 17:18 25 May
17:18 25 May
Leinster 22-28 Toulouse
Chris Ashton
Two-time Champions Cup winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Silly from Doris. He's been so good today. He saw the ball and wanted it so badly but that relieves all the pressure Leinster had been building.
Penalty - Leinster 22-28 Toulousepublished at 92 mins
92 mins
Thomas Ramos
A man up but now six points down!
Caelan Doris isn't supporting his own weight but has nibble at the ball anyway.
Ramos' effort wouldn't be described as confident but it's between the uprights and that's all that matters now!
Image source, Getty Images
Arnold costs Toulouse dearlypublished at 17:15 25 May
17:15 25 May
Leinster 22-25 Toulouse
Chris Ashton
Two-time Champions Cup winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Toulouse were in complete control but then Arnold comes flying in completely unnecessarily and hits Cian Healy in the head. That has completely spun the game again and Toulouse are in turmoil.
Toulouse with the lead, Leinster with the momentum?published at 17:14 25 May
17:14 25 May
ET: Leinster 22-25 Toulouse
Image source, Inpho
Converted try - Leinster 22-25 Toulousepublished at 94 mins
94 mins
Van der Flier (con Frawley)
What a momentum shift!
Leinster looked almost dead and buried but now they're right back in it.
A man up with Lowe returned and now Josh van der Flier is over for their first try, burrowing over from close range.
Toulouse thought they had a hand under the grounding but after a lengthy TMO review, the score is given!
Frawley converts with the last act of the first half of extra time and Leinster are within three with ten minutes to go.
What a final this has been and we've another ten minutes to come. Phew.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 92 mins
92 mins
Leinster 15-25 Toulouse
Leinster get a penalty but it's a tight angle.
They turn down the shot at the posts and roll the dice with the line-out again.
Red card - Richie Arnoldpublished at 89 mins
89 mins
Leinster 15-25 Toulouse
And it's red!
Lowe about a minute away from returning and then it'll be Leinster with the man advantage.
Image source, Getty Images