Fans cheer home Leinster

More than 8,000 ecstatic rugby fans today welcomed home the victorious Leinster team to Dublin after their thrilling Heineken Cup success

The Blues completed a two-in-a-row for Irish clubs in the European competition after Munster’s win last year.

Team captain Leo Cullen led his team mates as they paraded the trophy among a sea of Leinster flags at the RDS venue in Ballsbridge.

Players signed autographs in the brilliant sunshine and reflected on yesterday’s 19-16 battle over Leicester Tigers at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Star such as Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney were absent from the homecoming as they have already joined the British and Irish Lions squad en route to South Africa.

“It is such a great achievement for the team and the fans and it has been a long time coming,” captain Leo Cullen told the crowd.

The 31-year-old lock forward, who played for Leicester from 2005-2007, said he hoped the victory would be a platform for more success.

“Hopefully this will be a stepping stone for us to go on and be successful for many years to come,” he added.

One of the biggest cheers of the day came when Cullen raised aloft the trophy with coach, Australian Michael Cheika.

Leinster are the third Irish club to win the Heineken Cup after Munster and Ulster.