2018 European Rugby Champions Cup Final
Event2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup
Date12 May 2018
VenueSan Mamés, Bilbao
Man of the MatchJames Ryan (Leinster)
RefereeWayne Barnes (England)
Attendance52,282[1]

The 2018 European Rugby Champions Cup Final was the final match in the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup, and the twenty-third European club rugby final in general.

Irish club Leinster defeated French club Racing 92 in the final[2] played in Bilbao, Spain — the first time it was contested outside one of the Six Nations countries.[3][4][5]

Route to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Ireland Leinster Round France Racing 92
Opponent Result Pool stage Opponent Result
France Montpellier 24–17 (H) Matchday 1 England Leicester Tigers 22–18 (H)
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 34–18 (A) Matchday 2 Ireland Munster 7–14 (A)
England Exeter Chiefs 18–8 (A) Matchday 3 France Castres 13–16 (A)
England Exeter Chiefs 22–17 (H) Matchday 4 France Castres 29–7 (H)
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 55–19 (H) Matchday 5 Ireland Munster 34–30 (H)
France Montpellier 23–14 (A) Matchday 6 England Leicester Tigers 23–20 (A)
Pool 3 winner
Team P Pts
Ireland Leinster 627
England Exeter Chiefs 615
France Montpellier 613
Scotland Glasgow Warriors 67
Final standings Pool 4 runner-up
Team P Pts
Ireland Munster 621
France Racing 92 619
France Castres 612
England Leicester Tigers 67
Opponent Result Knock-out stage Opponent Result
England Saracens 30–19 (H) Quarter-finals France Clermont Auvergne 28–17 (A)
Wales Scarlets 38–16 (H) Semi-finals Ireland Munster 27–22 (H)

Match

Summary

The game was played in wet conditions, which made passing and attacking play difficult for both teams. Early in the game Racing fly-half Pat Lambie was forced off the field with a knee injury, replaced by French international Rémi Talès. Racing recovered from this set back to score the first points of the game with Teddy Iribaren kicking a penalty. Leinster responded on 16 minutes when Johnny Sexton opened their account, also from a penalty. Iribaren reestablished Racing's lead five minutes later and Sexton responded just before half time, to send the teams into the break level on six points apiece.[6]

The teams were both unchanged for the second half, and the penalty tit-for-tat continued. Sexton was the first to strike in the second half with a converted effort on 53 minutes, before Iribaren missed and the teams remained level at 9–9 coming into the final 10 minutes of play. Iribaren kicked his fourth penalty of the day to give Racing back their three-point lead, but Leinster responded quickly with a penalty from captain Isa Nacewa. Nacewa scored another penalty with two minutes left to play to give Leinster the lead for the first time in the match. Racing won the kick off and worked down the field, looking for a drop goal to level the match again and bring play to extra time. With clock over 80 minutes the opportunity fell to Talès, who pulled his effort wide to the left to give Leinster their fourth European title.[7]

Details

12 May 2018
17:45
Leinster Ireland15 – 12France Racing 92
Pen: Sexton (3/3) 16', 38', 53'
Nacewa (2/2) 73', 78'
Report[8]Pen: Iribaren (4/5) 3', 21', 44', 70'
San Mamés, Bilbao
Attendance: 52,282
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Leinster
Racing 92
FB15Ireland Rob Kearney
RW14Ireland Jordan Larmour
OC13Ireland Garry Ringrose
IC12Ireland Robbie Henshaw
LW11Fiji Isa Nacewa (c)
FH10Ireland Johnny Sexton
SH9Ireland Luke McGrathdownward-facing red arrow 61'
N88Ireland Jordi Murphydownward-facing red arrow 61'
OF7Ireland Dan Leavy
BF6Australia Scott Fardy
RL5Ireland James Ryan
LL4Ireland Devin Toner
TP3Ireland Tadhg Furlongdownward-facing red arrow 66'
HK2Ireland Seán Cronindownward-facing red arrow 61'
LP1Ireland Cian Healydownward-facing red arrow 68'
Substitutions:
HK16Ireland James Tracyupward-facing green arrow 61'
PR17Ireland Jack McGrathupward-facing green arrow 68'
PR18Ireland Andrew Porterupward-facing green arrow 66'
FL19Ireland Rhys Ruddock
N820Ireland Jack Conanupward-facing green arrow 61'
SH21Ireland Jamison Gibson-Parkupward-facing green arrow 61'
FH22Ireland Joey Carbery
CE23Ireland Rory O'Loughlin
Coach:
Ireland Leo Cullen
FB15France Louis Dupichotdownward-facing red arrow 30'upward-facing green arrow 38'
RW14France Teddy Thomas
OC13France Virimi Vakatawa
IC12France Henry Chavancy
LW11France Marc Andreu
FH10South Africa Pat Lambiedownward-facing red arrow 3'
SH9France Teddy Iribaren
N88France Yannick Nyanga (c)
OF7France Bernard Le Rouxdownward-facing red arrow 69'
BF6France Wenceslas Lauret
RL5Fiji Leone Nakarawa
LL4Ireland Donnacha Ryan
TP3France Cedate Gomes Sadownward-facing red arrow 54'
HK2France Camille Chatdownward-facing red arrow 44'upward-facing green arrow 54'downward-facing red arrow 58'
LP1France Eddy Ben Arousdownward-facing red arrow 54'
Substitutions:
HK16Samoa Ole Aveiupward-facing green arrow 44'downward-facing red arrow 54'upward-facing green arrow 58'
PR17Georgia (country) Vasil Kakovinupward-facing green arrow 54'
PR18Samoa Census Johnstonupward-facing green arrow 41'
FL19France Boris Palu
FL20France Baptiste Chouzenouxupward-facing green arrow 69'
SH21France Antoine Gibert
FH22France Rémi Talèsupward-facing green arrow 3'
WG23New Zealand Joe Rokocokoupward-facing green arrow 30'downward-facing red arrow 38'
Coach:
France Laurent Labit
France Laurent Travers

Man of the Match:
Ireland James Ryan

Touch judges:
JP Doyle (RFU)
Tom Foley (RFU)
Television Match Official:
Rowan Kitt (RFU)

References

  1. "As it happened". the42. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  2. "Leinster lift fourth European Cup after 15-12 victory over Racing 92". www.epcrugby.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  3. "European club rugby finals to break new ground in 2018 and 2019". www.epcrugby.com. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  4. "Leinster into European Champions Cup final after Sexton smites Scarlets". Guardian. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  5. "Teddy Thomas runs in two tries as Racing power past Munster". Guardian. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. "Leinster beat Racing 92 15-12 to secure fourth title". BBC Sport. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  7. "Leinster win European Champions Cup after 15-12 triumph over Racing 92 – as it happened". Guardian. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  8. "Leinster lift fourth European Cup after 15-12 victory over Racing 92". European Professional Club Rugby. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
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