Leinster's complicated history with Champions Cup

Leinster have lost their last four Champions Cup finals [Getty Images] The Champions Cup final has provided players and supporters some of the best memories in Leinster history. It has also led to some of the worst. One of the juggernauts of European rugby, it feels staggering that the Irish province have not won the Champions Cup since 2018.

Since that win, Leinster have lost four times in the decider, including three in a row from 2022-2024. But Leo Cullen's side are back in Bilbao, the scene of their 2018 triumph, with the aim of adding a fifth star. It won't be easy as a star-studded Bordeaux side stand in their way, but Leinster will hope it's a case of lessons learnt from previous heartbreaks.

"All the big games I've been lucky enough, and privileged enough, to be involved in with Leinster, I've learned valuable lessons from - some a little bit more painful than others," said centre Garry Ringrose. "All of them were close games and fell on really close, fine margins. "I guess those valuable lessons is from previous experiences just focusing on the preparation and working as hard as we can to prepare to then ultimately, I guess, go all in on the game and yeah, we can't control the outcome.

"We can't control the results, unfortunately. So it's just focusing on preparing as best we can and I guess what will be result-wise. " O'Brien an injury worry for Leinster before final In 2018, Leinster were narrow 15-12 winners over Racing 92 in Bilbao, but the following year were left to watch Saracens lift the biggest prize in European club rugby in Newcastle after a 20-10 defeat.