Mathieu Bastareaud has always stood out in a crowd, never more so than when surrounded by some of the most famous players in the world.

A Corkman is setting up and funding the country’s first ever professional cycling team which will take on the world’s most established and star-studded squads in 2017.

Four times his Grenoble side have played Toulon, three times they’ve won. The secret is simple.

Ian Madigan believes that pride in, and attachment to, their home province will prove to be the difference next Sunday when Leinster travel to take on Toulon’s European champions at the Stade Felix Mayo.