Summary

  • Saracens beat Leinster 20-10 to become European champions at St James' Park in Newcastle

  • English side secure third Champions Cup in four years

  • Billy Vunipola try while Leinster's Fardy was in sin-bin was crucial score

  • Converted Maitland try in injury time levelled score at 10-10 at half-time

  • Furlong scored first try with Itoje in sin-bin as Leinster led 10-0

  1. Bye!published at 19:38 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    WinnersImage source, AFP

    Brilliant scenes in the Sarries dressing room as Sean Maitland runs into the middle and is showered in beer.

    And on that celebratory picture, I will leave you. If you want to read more about that victory, head here.

    What a brilliant Champions Cup it's been, see you next year!

  2. What happenedpublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Leinster forward Scott Fardy was given a yellow card for offside in the second half and Saracens capitalised on the numerical advantage.

    Owen Farrell slotted another penalty before Billy Vunipola broke through a mass of Leinster defenders to score Saracens' second try.

    The 20-10 lead was too much for Leinster to overcome and Sarries claimed their third Champions Cup title.

  3. What happenedpublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    A reminder of how that game played out:

    It was a fast start from Leinster and quite the opposite from Saracens as Johnny Sexton gave his side an early lead with a penalty.

    Maro Itoje was sent off for being offside and the Irish side soon went 10-0 up after Tadhg Furlong's try. It looked as though Leinster would go into the break with a healthy lead.

    But Saracens were galvanised by the deficit and a penalty from Owen Farrell was followed by a try from Sean Maitland once the clock had gone red leaving the score 10-10 at half-time.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    #bbcrugby

    Adam Williams: Nicely done @Saracens, external That looked like a real slug-fest at times!

    Criv: Fantastic @ChampionsCup, external final! Both teams deserve credit for their part but the one team that actually wanted to play rugby won. Well deserved @Saracens, external

  5. Postpublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    There are still plenty of Saracens fans still in St James' Park. They may already have won two Champions Cup titles before this, but they still want to relish this win.

  6. 'We stuck to what we do well'published at 19:27 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Prop Vincent Koch, who came on after 30 minutes, said on BT Sport:

    "Due to injuries I had to come on earlier but it's always good playing in a final.

    "We came into the game focussed and we knew what to do. I was just trying to do my job and play for the team.

    "We knew they were going to come with a strong pack. We had to stick to what we do well."

  7. Party timepublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens wins Champions Cup

    Saracens have a Premiership semi-final coming up, but from the looks of this they'll take some time out for celebrations first.

    SkeltonImage source, AFP
  8. 'It's a beautiful feeling'published at 19:24 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    ItojoeImage source, AFP

    Saracens forward Maro Itoje said on BT Sport:

    "It's very special. Winning our third Champions Cup is truly amazing. Our team is like family so it's a beautiful feeling.

    "My yellow card was all part of the master plan. The team ironically started playing better when I was off the pitch. When things go against us it galvanises us.

    "When we're against the wall that's when we truly show our character.

    "We needed to up our physicality and our work rate and the rest is history. We'll celebrate tonight and maybe tomorrow then we'll see what happens after that."

  9. Comeback kingspublished at 19:20 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    It may have been a dramatic week in football but a reminder that Saracens were 10-0 down in the first half. But an Owen Farrell penalty and Sean Maitland try put an end to that.

    An incredible comeback that just shows what a quality side Saracens are. Have that football.

    Saracens with the trophyImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton said:

    "It was small margins, we didn't take a couple of chances.

    "It's always the way when you lose you look back on little things. I felt a few little decisions didn't go our way."

    Johnny Sexton is interviewed by James BurridgeImage source, BBC Sport
  11. 'The best feeling I've had on a rugby pitch'published at 19:16 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Saracens hooker Jamie George said on BT Sport:

    "It's the best feeling I've ever had on a rugby pitch. My shoulder bothered me right the way through the game and it still is nice but it's nothing a few beers won't sort.

    "We work so hard to be the best pack we can be. We've got such strength in depth."

    Disclaimer: Beer is not actually proven to fix shoulder injuries.

  12. Postpublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje went for the slightly less common celebration on the floor at full-time.

    Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell celebrate on the floorImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Rob Kearney is taking the time to thank the many Leinster fans who made the journey from Ireland.

    Rob Kearney claps the crowdImage source, BBC Sport
  14. Postpublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    TrophyImage source, Getty Images

    The whole squad and staff pile in for an obligatory photo. Richard Wigglesworth is looking particularly overjoyed as he sits at the front.

  15. Both scrum-halves played wellpublished at 19:10 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

    Both scrum-halves played really well. I wouldn't say Richard Wigglesworth was better than Ben Spencer. He came on and made some good decisions and did what he does well in controlling the game. But the start of the game was so intense and Spencer was at the heart of the game for the first 50 minutes.

  16. Postpublished at 19:10 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Jamie George is given the trophy and the whole team runs towards their fans.

    They've all got hold of bottles of champagne and spray them everywhere. Very original.

  17. Postpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Brad Barritt lifts the trophy as gold streamers and fireworks fly into the air.

  18. 'It's a great victory'published at 19:07 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup final

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall on BBC Radio 5 Live: "After Maro Itoje got sin-binned it was incredible to be level at half-time and the second half was as well as we've played in a final.

    "It's a great victory. This is a group that have been through a lot - good and bad - and they want to work hard for each other.

    "We were 10-0 down against a quality team so this is a massive win."

    Mark McCall is interviewed by James BurridgeImage source, BBC Sport
  19. Postpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Saracens win Champions Cup

    Mako Vunipola waves to the crowd as he goes up first to get his winners medal.

  20. Postpublished at 19:05 British Summer Time 11 May 2019

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

    Alex Goode has had a number of super seasons. He's getting big hugs from his team-mates but it's been to Saracens' benefit him not playing for England because he's always around the squad and is one of the senior players.