EPCR Finals Weekend 2024

On Friday evening, Sharks became the first South African-based team to win a European trophy by beating Gloucester 36-22 in the European Challenge Cup Final.

Sharks were always in control as they led 16-3 at half-time and then powered into a 36-10 lead by the hour mark, running in three tries with Siya Masuku kicking all eight of his penalty and conversion attempts. Phepsi Buthelezi scored the only try of the first half with Masuku adding three penalties and a conversion. Caolan Englefield replied with a penalty for Gloucester.

Two more penalties from Masuku stretched Sharks' lead to 22-3 at the start of the second half. Aphelele Fassi then added a try, converted by Masuku, for 29-3, although there was hope for Gloucester when Albert Tuisue went over, converted by Adam Hastings for 29-10. However, that hope was short lived as Makazole Mapimpi picked up Masuku's kick and dived in for Sharks' third try and a 34-10 lead, converted again by Masuku for 36-10.

Gloucester rallied with tries from Santi Socino and Freddie Clark, one converted by Hastings, for the final 36-22 scoreline.

Gloucester: 1 Ford-Robinson, 2 Blake, 3 Bamain, 4 Clarke, 5 Clark, 6 Ackerman, 7 Ludlow (c), 8 Mercer, 9 Englefield, 10 Hastings, 11 Thorley, 12 Atkinson, 13 Harris, 14 May 15 Carreras. Replacements: 16 Socino, 17 Vivas, 18 Gotovtsev, 19 Tuisue, 20 Clement, 21 Varney, 22 Llewellyn, 23 Hathaway.

Sharks: 1 Nche, 2 Mbonambi, 3 Kock, 4 Etzebeth (c), 5 Grobler, 6 J Venter, 7 Tshituka, 8 Buthelezi, 9 Williams, 10 Masuku, 11 Mapimpi, 12 F Venter, 13 Hooker, 14 Kok, 15 Fassi. Replacements: 16 Mbatha, 17 Mchunu, 18 Jacobs, 19 Labushagne, 20 Richardson, 21 Wright, 22 Bosch, 23 Keyter.

Attendance: 34,761.

Toulouse were crowned European champions on another historic day at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as we hosted the rugby union's EPCR Finals on Friday and Saturday.

Following Sharks' 36-22 win against Gloucester in the Investec Challenge Cup on Friday evening, Toulouse claimed their sixth European title with a thrilling 31-22 victory after extra time against Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup Final on Saturday.

The game went to the wire – Dublin-based Leinster had the chance to win it at the end of normal time with the teams locked at 15-15, but Ciaran Frawley was narrowly wide with a drop goal attempt from 40 yards.

Toulouse then appeared to take control in the first half of extra time as James Lowe received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on and therefore 10 minutes in the sin bin. Toulouse took advantage with the first try of the final from Matthis Lebel, converted by Thomas Ramos, who soon added a penalty to extend the lead to 10 points.

However, momentum shifted again when Richie Arnold was sent off for head contact on Leinster’s Cian Healy, meaning that Toulouse would end the game with 14 men. Josh van der Flier then went over for Leinster's first try, converted by Frawley to make 25-22 going into the second half of extra time.

It looked Leinster's game to go and win... but two penalties against them in quick succession, both landed by Ramos, took Toulouse nine points clear at 31-22. Leinster had to score twice with a little over three minutes remaining, and that was beyond them.

Earlier, the teams kicked five penalties each as it ended 15-15 in normal time, Blair Kinghorn with four for Toulouse before being replaced by Ramos, who added the fifth before kicking another three penalties and converting Lebel's try in extra time. Ross Byrne also kicked four penalties for Leinster before Frawley took over, kicking the penalty that took the game into extra time, but agonisingly just wide with his chance to win it in the last minute.

Man of the Match Antoine Dupont lifted the trophy in front of a 61,531 crowd - a record for rugby union at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Stade Toulousain: 1 Baille, 2 Mauvaka, 3 Aldegheri, 4 Flament, 5 Meafou, 6 Willis, 7 Cros, 8 Roumat, 9 Dupont (c), 10 Ntamack, 11 Lebel, 12 Ahki, 13 Costes, 14 Mallia, 15 Kinghorn. Replacements: 16 Marchand, 17 Neti, 18 Merkler, 19 Arnold, 20 Brennan, 21 Graou, 22 Chocobares, 23 Ramos.

Leinster: 1 Porter, 2 Sheehan, 3 Furlong, 4 McCarthy, 5 Jenkins, 6 Baird, 7 Connors, 8 Doris (c), 10 Byrne, 11 Lowe, 12 Osborne, 13 Henshaw, 14 Larmour, 15 Keenan. Replacements: 16 Kelleher, 17 Healy, 18 Ala'alatoa, 19 Ryan, 20 Conan, 21 McGrath, 22 Frawley, 23 van der Flier.

Attendance: 61,531.