With a fortnight to go to the first ever all-Irish Heineken Cup final, Ulster Rugby have ‘won’ the first installment of the build-up to the biggest occasion in European club rugby following a coin toss in the ERC offices in Dublin today to decide which club will occupy the home changing room at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, 19 May.
Although London Wasps triumphed from the home changing room the last time the Heineken Cup final was staged at RFU headquarters in 2007, reigning champions, Leinster Rugby, won’t be overly concerned with having to tog out in the away changing room, which will be familiar surroundings to their Ireland internationals, as they attempt to become only the second club in the history of the tournament to win back-to-back titles.
If they manage to emulate Leicester Tigers’ achievement in 2001 and 2002, Leinster will also be lifting the coveted trophy for an unprecedented third time in four seasons while Ulster will be bridging a 13-year gap since their famous final victory in Dublin in 1999.
As the countdown to Saturday week’s much-anticipated clash begins, this will be the fourth time that Twickenham Stadium has hosted the final, and on each previous occasion an English club has emerged victorious. Northampton Saints edged out Munster Rugby in 2000, and then in 2004 and 2007, London Wasps were successful beating Toulouse 27-20 and Leicester Tigers 25-9.
With an expected sell-out crowd of 82,000 packing Twickenham, the Heineken Cup will be the showpiece event of ERC’s London finals weekend which kicks off with the Amlin Challenge Cup final between Biarritz Olympique and RC Toulon on Friday, 18 May.
THE TWICKENHAM FINALS
Friday, 18 May – Amlin Challenge Cup Final
Biarritz Olympique v RC Toulon – Twickenham Stoop (20.00)
Saturday, 19 May – Heineken Cup Final
Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby – Twickenham Stadium (17.00)
