Remembering ‘Bloodgate’: Leinster’s only other knockout win on English soil

Tom Williams of Harlequins walks off with physio Steph Brennan to be replaced by team mate Nick Evans (not in picture) as blood pours from his mouth during the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster at the Stoop on April 12, 2009. Picture: David Rogers

There’s not much Leinster haven’t achieved in the past decade but heading away to England to win a European quarter-final remains a rare event, They go to Sandy Park Saturday knowing that, remarkably, only once before have they won a knockout match at an English club ground.

And it wasn’t just any old match, it was perhaps one of the most infamous games of rugby in history, The ‘Bloodgate’ 6-5 Heineken Cup quarter-final win against Harlequins at The Stoop on a Sunday afternoon in April 2009. Two penalties from current backs coach Felipe Contepomi was enough to send a side skippered by Leo Cullen through to a semi-final meeting with Munster.