The week began with La Rochelle's Irish backroom staff watching Jack Crowley emulate a former Munster out half at Lansdowne Road. It will end in the Aviva Stadium too and the French club's third Champions Cup final on the trot. 

The Kiwi hadn’t played for well over 100 days because of a hamstring injury, so one thing dominated his thoughts as he cantered nearly the length of the Aviva Stadium

Both sides had to get by without a raft of Test players siphoned off by Ireland and Wales for Six Nations duties.

Leinster became the second team to qualify for the last 16 in the Heineken Champions Cup as they made it three bonus-point wins in a row in Pool A

Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde says that Warren Gatland has not approached him about the possibility of returning home across the Irish Sea to serve under the Kiwi for a second time

James Ryan will captain Leinster against Glasgow Warriors

Rob Kearney believes there would be more changes for Glasgow clash had Leinster won the Champions Cup

European Champions Cup Final: How they rated

In 2019 Leinster held a 10-0 lead coming up to half-time but didn’t score again and lost.

Sexton limped off in the closing stages and could only watch as La Rochelle came with their late surge to snatch the title.

A try by replacement scrum-half Arthur Retiere in the last play of the match has won the European Champions Cup for Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle.

Ireland hooker says the Blues' attacking improvement is player-led as they look to put Toulouse to the semi-final sword this weekend

Semi-final tie brings star power, glamour, history

It was the EPCR’s decision to call off their trip to Montpellier and award the Top 14 side all five match points in December that consigned Leinster to Saturday’s business in the East Midlands.

Mathieu Raynal frustrated Ireland during that Six Nations contest with England

Staying put was a no-brainer for the Athlone man

Munster’s clash with reigning champions Toulouse will get the Champions Cup quarter-finals underway on Saturday May 7 at the Aviva Stadium, kick off is at 3pm

Leinster cruised into the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals with a crushing second leg victory over Connacht after an eight-try to three rout of their interprovincial rivals

Tournament organisers EPCR had received the complaint over his tackle on Kieran Marmion,

Leinster backs coach says no recent contact regarding him possibly joining Argentina's staff with new coach Michael Cheika

Toner and Leinster boss Leo Cullen are both happy with where Leinster are at, a 10 point lead in the URC, ahead of the European Cup double header against Connacht

Without playing badly Munster were outgunned in the United Rugby Championship derby

Two tries from wing James Lowe and scores from captain on the night Garry Ringrose and right wing Jimmy O’Brien took Leinster past Munster

Ask James Lowe for his favourite memory of visiting Thomond Park and the Leinster wing gives an answer we have come to expect from the outgoing and exuberant Kiwi-born Ireland star.

Peter O'Mahony is one of nine changes for Munster, Garry Ringrose is among the Leinster returnees

It was in the backyard of the old enemy that a 20-year-old Larmour announced his emergence onto the Irish rugby stage

Connacht coach Andy Friend had no arguments with the early red card which Cullen said had a galvanising effect on Connacht in the first half

Despite being reduced to 14 men after less than three minutes, Connacht went in 8-7 ahead at half-time

Ulster closed to just one point behind Leinster in the United Rugby Championship standings

The teams have been named for Saturday's interpro at Kingspan Stadium

Since Tadhg Beirne blazed a trail by taking up the oval ball on a permanent basis a little over a decade ago, several others from the village have followed.

Since joining from Connacht in 2011, Cronin has enjoyed remarkable success with the eastern province

Go back two years and he was just off his first senior cap with Ireland, his nine minutes off the bench against Wales in the Six Nations looking for all the world like it was just the beginning of something

"It has been very straightforward thankfully," said Leinster CEO Mick Dawson

But Leo Cullen and co are able to welcome back Cian Healy, Ryan Baird and Jordan Larmour this weekend

Converted tries from Scott Penny and Nick McCarthy gave Leinster the platform for the win

After being named Guinness PRO14 Next-Gen Star of the Season, this current campaign has brought more frustration, with just three appearances

Ross Byrne’s immaculate boot seemed to have won the game in the 75th mintue with a penalty that made it 27-26 to the reigning URC champions - but there was a further twist

You know you must be doing something right when Ronan O’Gara is questioning your omission from Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad

URC points won’t be the only motivation as Leinster travel to Cardiff tomorrow.

'Since I first started training with him, it's like he's got more time than anyone I have seen. Nine times out of 10 he is making the right decisions to set up the attack. The more I train with him the more I see it. It's impressive to be around'

While Leinster might look at bringing the second leg to the Aviva Stadium, Connacht are going to host the first battle at the Sportsground

Typical. You wait ages for a Heineken Champions Cup start, and then three come along almost at once. Not that Ross Molony will be complaining today when Leinster face Bath at The Rec.

Scott Penny, Tommy O'Brien, Jack Dunne and Dan Goggin will all turn out for their clubs this weekend