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

La Rochelle have won the European Champions Cup for the first time after Arthur Rétiere’s last-gasp try earned a famous 24-21 victory over Leinster in Marseille.

Johnny Sexton kicked six penalties for Leinster before going off injured with 16 minutes to go. His replacement, Ryan Byrne, added a seventh to put Leinster 21-17 up after what looked a costly yellow card for Thomas Lavault.

But Ronan O’Gara’s side kept up the attacking pressure even with 14 men, and when Lavault returned from the sin-bin, they finally made it tell. Arthur Retière went over with a minute to play and by the time Ihaia West added the conversion, there was no time for Leinster to respond.

Retière’s late score was the French side’s third of the match, with South African wing Raymond Rhule bursting clear after 10 minutes. Pierre Bourgarit then forced his way over on the hour mark, but Sexton’s boot kept the heavy pre-game favourites ahead until the dramatic finale sent the yellow-clad fans into raptures.

Robert Kitson’s full report will follow