World Cup 'heartbreak' can fuel Leinster season, says Hugo Keenan

Hugo Keenan says Ireland's World Cup frustration can fuel Leinster’s season as they bid to regain Champions Cup and URC titles.

Leo Cullen’s side last lifted silverware in 2021 when they won the then-Pro14 and were beaten in the last two European finals, both times by La Rochelle, who are Leinster’s opponents in round one of the competition in two weeks’ time.

First comes the 169th meeting with rivals Munster, who won the URC last season, defeating Leinster in the semi-final.

The sides clash in round six of the BKT URC at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday [6.30pm].

Keenan returned to action with a man-of-the-match showing over Scarlets last weekend and believes the disappointment of losing to New Zealand at the quarter-final stage in France can provide extra motivation for the 18 Leinster players who were involved.

"I’m not going to lie, [the weeks after have] been a bit grim. It was heartbreaking, how the World Cup ended for us, and it’s not something you get over quickly," Keenan [above] told RTÉ Sport.

"We were all delighted to get back into Leinster about two weeks ago and excited to get back in the RDS, putting on the Leinster jersey again.

"That’s probably the only way you can get over these things, get back playing rugby, get back focused on what you can do next.

"It’s exciting times for us with Munster down the line this week and the Cup around the corner with La Rochelle and Sale, big fixtures to come and that will motivate you pretty quickly."

Asked if there had been a review of the quarter-final against New Zealand, which Ireland lost 28-24 after topping their pool, the full-back said: "Not as a group, no.

"That’s the nature of knockout rugby and especially international rugby, when you are out, you’re out. You don’t really