Can Leinster Finally Win Their Fifth Champions Cup This Season?
Leinster are one of the most successful teams in the history of the Investec Champions Cup with four titles to their name, yet the recent editions of the competition have seen them be nearly men rather than serial winners.
They have reached the final of the Champions Cup in each of the last three years but have been unable to return victorious, with a fifth star on their jerseys. Here we will look at Leinster’s chances of finally winning a fifth Champions Cup in 2024/25, looking at the odds markets and how the Irish team have strengthened since the last campaign.
Leinster Expected To Do Battle With Toulouse Again
Leinster and Toulouse are expected to be the standout teams in the Champions Cup again this season. The French team are the outright favourites according to the sports betting odds at 7/4, and the Paddy Power Blog suggests that Leinster will be the team most likely to challenge them.
Toulouse defeated Leinster in the most recent final in May, so it is no surprise that they lead the list of potential 2025 champions according to the odds makers. The Irish team though will be fired up by revenge and will be firmly intent on winning the competition regardless of what the critics say this season.
3️⃣ from 3️⃣ for @leinsterrugby, with 3️⃣ different starting 10s…
Who should be their long-term fly-half?
Check out everything that happened last weekend ⬇️https://t.co/FpgrJnqWWu
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) October 7, 2024
Leinster’s commitment to finally winning another Champions Cup has been seen off the pitch over the summer break as they have made some of the most impressive signings across Europe.
Leinster’s Key Additions
Leinster have crucially retained all of their key players who played significant parts in the run to the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this year. Dan Sheehan notably signed a two-year extension to remain within the club’s project to win a fifth Champions Cup. The club have also made several excellent additions to the squad that were beaten finalists last season, in an attempt to improve the team’s starting quality and overall depth. Jordie Barrett is the standout transfer that Leinster has secured to bolster their 2024/25 ambitions. The New Zealand international is undoubtedly a world-class centre, meaning the club has added a true needle-mover who could help them reach a new level.
RG Snyman is another player with world-leading quality and experience that Leinster have added since their latest Champions Cup heartbreak. Snyman has won the Rugby World Cup twice with South Africa and is still well in his prime – his addition means that Leinster now has by far the greatest quality of any team in the lock position.
Other Teams To Watch Out For
There are other teams besides Toulouse that Leinster should be wary of for the 2024/25 season. The strongest example is Bordeaux as they have added multiple players with competition-winning experience in Jonny Gray and Joey Carbery.
La Rochelle will also be expected to reach the last four, and Leinster will be well aware of their threat after being beaten by them in the 2022 and 2023 finals.
Regardless of the level of opposition that Leinster may face in the upcoming season, they are positioned strongly to finally secure their fifth Champions Cup. They have added top players to close the gap on Toulouse, and will be big favourites when they face any of the other top sides.
Ireland’s biggest historical club is set to lead the hopes of the Champions Cup trophy finally leaving France in 2025 following a four-year stay.
