La Rochelle stun Leinster with late try to win Champions Cup for first time

• Champions Cup final: Leinster 21-24 La Rochelle
• Arthur Retière’s last-gasp try earns club’s first major trophy

Beneath the beautiful curving roof of this spectacular stadium the question was whether Leinster could graduate as the modern masters of the European game. For some time they have been on a mission to secure a record-equalling fifth Champions Cup title and for almost 79 minutes the stage seemed set to complete their grand design.

Then, right at the last, it all turned to rubble. After what felt like several years of concerted La Rochelle forward pressure the ball arrived in the hands of their reserve scrum-half, Arthur Retière, one of the smaller men on the field. The 24-year-old stumbled at first but recovered his poise and stretched just far enough to touch the line and deliver the ultimate European title to the Atlantic Coast for the first time.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GkWxibo