Here's how to watch Leinster vs Bordeaux in the huge Champions Cup Final
Leinster will play in their record ninth Champions Cup final this Saturday as they face reigning Champions Bordeaux-Begles in Bilbao, as they look for that elusive fifth star.
Leo Cullen’s side have gone about this campaign in more challenging fashion than usual, winning games in nowhere near as convincing fashion as they have done in previous years.
However, they could be peaking at the right time, as they face a Bordeaux side who play some of the most exciting rugby on the planet, thanks to their backline featuring Mathieu Jalibert, Damien Penaud and of course Louis Bielle-Biarrey. It won’t be one you want to miss, so here’s everything you need to know.
Rieko Ioane during a Leinster Rugby Squad training session at UCD in Dublin. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
When is Leinster vs Bordeaux?
The Champions Cup final takes place this Saturday, May 23, and kick-off is at 2:45pm Irish time.
The finals in recent seasons have been on a bit earlier than what you’d usually expect, and that’s because French broadcasters wanted it on earlier so it wouldn’t clash with the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival.
Dan Sheehan. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
How to Watch the Champions Cup Finals?
Unfortunately, the Champions Cup Final won’t be on free-to-air television once again this year, as it is only available on Premier Sports.
You can watch the game on Premier Sports 1, with their coverage beginning at 1:45pm.
Team News
For Leinster, the major news is James Lowe being left out. The winger made a return from injury last week in the win over Ospreys, but didn’t make the 23 this time, with Rieko Ioane taking the 11 jersey.
Tommy O’Brien returned after missing that Ospreys win through a late injury, and Paddy McCarthy returned from his broken foot to make the bench alongside Tadhg Furlong.
Harry Byrne gets the nod at 10, with no space in the 23 for Sam Prendergast as Ciarán Frawley made the bench ahead of the Kildare youngster.
For Bordeaux, Bielle-Biarrey made it back from an injury scare to start, meanwhile Damien Penaud is moved inside into 13 from his familiar wing position to make room for Pablo Uberti.
French International Maxine Lucu captains the side from scrum-half as the only chaneg made form their semi-final win over Bath sees verteran prop Jefferson Poirot return to the starting lineup after serving a suspension.
