The fairytale farewell sparks rhapsody in blue

Ulster 18 Leinster 24

Laughter and raucousness spilled from the ‘home’ quarters but it was only when the brotherhood was sundered and Jonathan Sexton emerged to face the media that the quieter, more telling moments were shared.

Sexton is one of eight players moving on this summer and Joe Schmidt will be moving in to new offices down the road with the IRFU. All eight addressed the squad to impart a few words before they split up for one last, definitive time.