Leinster complete domestic and European double
Leinster put past disappointments behind them to scoop an elusive RaboDirect PRO12 title in head coach Joe Schmidt's last game in charge.
Leinster put past disappointments behind them to scoop an elusive RaboDirect PRO12 title in head coach Joe Schmidt's last game in charge.
Joe Schmidt cut a relaxed figure after his Leinster team ended their run of three straight league final defeats with a 24-18 RaboDirect PRO12 final victory over Ulster at the RDS.
Leinster can claim the one that keeps getting away as they take on Ulster in the PRO12 final, writes Tadhg Peavoy
How it happened: Leinster defeated Ulster 24-18 at the RDS in the RaboDirect PRO12 final today.
Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss and Brian O'Driscoll return to the Leinster starting line-up for the RaboDirect Pro 12 final against Ulster.
Prop John Afoa will start for Ulster against Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 final at the RDS.
Sean O'Brien could yet play for Leinster in Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final after making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury.
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt set his sights on a trophy double after watching his side win the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 34-13 destruction of Stade Francais.
Leinster's double dreams are still alive after they came through a gripping RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS.
Ulster booked their passage to the RaboDirect PRO12 final with relative ease with a 28-17 victory over the Scarlets at Ravenhill even though they only outscored the visitors by three tries to two.
RTÉ Rugby analyst Tony Ward believes that it will be an all-Irish RaboDirect PRO12 final following this weekend's semi-finals.
Irish rugby has legitimate hopes of an all-Irish RaboDirect PRO12 final on 25 May.
Centre Gordon D'Arcy retuns to the Leinster team but Sean O'Brien is an injury concern ahead of their PRO12 semi-final with Glasgow.
Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has made four changes for Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 play-off against Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill.
Matt O'Connor has been appointed head coach of Leinster Rugby on a three-year deal.
Ulster earned a home semi-final against the Scarlets by seeing off Cardiff Blues with a bonus point win at a wet Ravenhill to finish top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table.
Ulster's Nick Williams has been named RaboDirect PRO12 Players' Player of the Year, with team-mate Luke Marshall scooping the Young Player of the Year award.
Leinster rounded off the league phase of the RaboDirect PRO12 with a bonus point win as the Ospreys relinquished their grip on the trophy.
Connacht failed to bid a fond farewell to legends Johnny O'Connor and Eric Elwood as they lost 3-20 to Glasgow Warriors.
Munster overcame an eight-point half-time deficit to ensure RaboDirect Pro12 minnows Zebre finished their campaign without a single victory.