Rob Kearney has agreed a “nine-month extension” to his IRFU contract and will play with Leinster next season.

Connacht supporters won’t get to see Bordeaux-Begles’s world stars Semi Radradra, Brock James, Seta Tamanivalu, or Jean-Baptiste Serin today, as once again the Challenge Cup has failed to ignite French passions.

Elliot Daly scored two tries as Wasps kept alive their hopes of progressing to the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 21-3 victory.

Five-try Racing extended their advantage at the summit of the Top 14 with a bonus-point 39-35 triumph, as late tries from Xavier Chauveau and Joe Rokocoko broke Grenoble’s stubborn resistance.

TOULON 24 CLERMONT AUVERGNE 18: Be careful what you wish for.

Toulon made rugby union history at Twickenham as they clinched a hat-trick of European titles by defeating fellow French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne 24-18 in the Champions Cup final.

The French will take Twickenham by storm next month for the first time since they subjected the All Blacks to the most riotous half-hour in World Cup history.

France star Wesley Fofana scored the game’s solitary try just after half-time as French heavyweights Clermont prevailed 13-9 against Saracens to reach their second European final in three seasons.

Racing Metro 13 ASM Clermont Auvergne 13: Johnny Sexton expressed his bemusement with the French Top 14 countdown clock for goal-kicking after he was penalised for taking too long over a penalty in Racing Metro’s drawn league game with Clermont.

Johnny Sexton, to Joe Schmidt’s undoubted relief, was back on home soil last night, the Ireland fly-half’s body intact and his mind fully focused on next Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with England.

Thomas Castaignede played 54 times for France at fly-half, full-back and centre, scoring 252 points for Les Bleus between 1995 and 2007, writes Simon Lewis.

Munster can turn their Rugby Champions Cup campaign around with a win over Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin — but it will take their greatest performance in 20 years of European rugby to do so, suggests Ronan O'Gara.

THERE he was, this game little eight-year-old, chasing every one of our dead rugby balls like a buck, writes Ronan O'Gara.

The last time Cardiff staged the final, there were 12 Irish on the pitch and another 30,000 or so packed into the Millennium Stadium to witness Leinster’s second European conquest.

Saracens 46 Clermont Auvergne 6

In a market that is set to become even more competitive given increased revenues from their domestic and European broadcast deals, the English and French clubs are set to make life a lot more difficult for the Irish provinces.

Clermont 22 Leicester 16

Clermont Auvergne are not a side to meet from September to March, but their late season form and inability to close the deal means coach Vern Cotter will depart the club in the summer to mixed reviews, by Bernard Jackman.

Racing Metro 13 ASM Clermont Auvergne 9

Clermont coach Vern Cotter has claimed his club were Jonny Sexton’s preferred choice in France, but were priced out of a deal by the financial might of Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing Métro.

ASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has been slammed by former and current players for his behaviour during Saturday’s Heineken Cup final win over Clermont.

Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16

Clermont 16 Munster 10

Three key areas where Munster must impose themselves this evening

As May beckons Munster and Leinster prepare for a French test. At the end of contrasting seasons, and facing a different calibre of opponent, the Red Army travel in hope, the blues wait in expectation.

Clermont Auvergne may be the envy of most clubs in Europe with the wealth of talent at their disposal but while that depth is apparent at out-half, filling the 10 shirt on Saturday is their biggest concern at the moment.

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter has cranked up the heat ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final by claiming Paul O’Connell was protected by officials over the incident with Dave Kearney.

Leinster 21 Clermont Auvergne 28

The cold hard light of day.

Yesterday’s Leinster press conference was up and running for nearly 10 minutes before Joe Schmidt felt obliged to remind everyone that the province had a Heineken Cup game against Clermont Auvergne to play at the weekend.

Saracens forward coach Paul Gustard believes his big-name players are ready to stand up and be counted as they look to end Munster’s Heineken Cup dream this weekend.

Mike Ross is confident his contract talks with the IRFU will result in a deal that keeps him at Leinster well beyond next summer when his current deal is due to expire.

Rob Kearney has rolled the clock back on his injury comeback but insists Ian Madigan can withstand another aerial inspection from Clermont this weekend.

Clermont Auvergne 15 Leinster 12

After watching his side lose 15-12 to Clermont Auvergne, Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt was frustrated that they did not get more than a losing bonus point out of the game.

Clermont Auvergne 15 Leinster 12

This is Cian Healy’s seventh season knocking around the Leinster dressing-room and the Ireland prop can’t remember the province’s squad being stronger or deeper than it is now.

Leinster 37 Zebre 7

EPIC. Truly epic.

Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt was a relieved man after watching his side survive a late Clermont Auvergne barrage to win 19-15 and reach their third Heineken Cup final in four years.

Clermont Auvergne 15 Leinster 19

As Ulster adapt to being favourites for a Heineken Cup semi-final, champions Leinster face the sternest test in the defence of their title and an all-Irish final hangs in the balance.

Copious praise has been thrust at Clermont Auvergne this week, but perhaps the most notable aspect to the French side is its patience.