• Stade Rochelais became the fourth team to win the Rugby Champions Cup after their 24-21 win over Leinster.

  • The Maritimes, led throughout the game, managed to turn the game around in the very last minutes thanks to a hard try from Arthur Retière.

  • Thanks to this incredible victory, the Yellow and Black finally ward off the fate of defeats in the final, after three consecutive losses in the last two seasons.

At the Velodrome stadium,

The feeling of duty accomplished, more than an outpouring of joy.

If the La Rochelle players let their pleasure burst when they lifted the Champions Cup trophy on the lawn of the Vélodrome stadium after their victory against Leinster (24-21) on Saturday, it was above all a feeling of relief that prevailed among Ronan O'Gara's men.

After three losses in their last three finals, the Maritimes managed the feat of overthrowing the Irish at the very end of the game on Saturday afternoon to win the club's first trophy.

“It's a special feeling, I didn't know it, and very few know it in this group.

That's it, it's the realization”, soberly confided Romain Sazy, at the club since 2010 and who was there for the rise of Pro D2 in 2014. “It's something huge, like after the Grand Slam [won with the XV of France].

I'm so drained, it's weird because it's a bit empty, ”said captain Grégory Alldritt.

State of mind

And it was not won for the Yellow and Black.

Led throughout the game, they showed incredible courage to score a strong try at the very end of the match by Arthur Retière (79th), after having squatted the last five Irish meters during the last ten minutes.

Until the exit of Leinster striker Johnny Sexton, the entire Stade Vélodrome saw them logically lose again in the final.

But the mindset made the difference.

“All week we said that everyone had to take a moment to think about whether they really wanted this victory.

Let everyone ask themselves if they wanted to go get her.

We have a determined group, for nothing in the world we would have left this cup to Leinster, ”said Grégory Alldritt.

For Ronan O'Gara, the ingredients are simple:

“I think it's easy to explain, we couldn't lose.

Our state of mind was excellent, we showed that we had worked hard, that we learned from our mistakes.

We worked very well all week, continuing to tell ourselves that this would be our cut.

Without wanting to be arrogant, we were sure to win it.

"I dare not imagine the old port tomorrow"

And the Maritimes have finally exorcised their three losses in their last three finals.

"It's huge for the club, we had to go through this stage to ward off fate", savored Romain Sazy, impatient to bring the trophy back to La Rochelle: "I dare not imagine the old port tomorrow.

It's gonna be amazing.

»

His teammates too, after seeing the videos of the old port, of the Rochelais third line after the climb in 2014. “It's mainly Sunday that I'm going to achieve.

What gives the most pleasure is that we bring this trophy back to our supporters, they are even more champions than us.

When you see the Vélodrome today, what more do you want?

We can't wait to offer them this trophy, ”said the captain of La Rochelle.

Before, perhaps;

bring back another, that of the Top 14, and ward off fate on the national scene?

Leinster – La Rochelle Rugby: Incredible!

The Rochelais are European champions thanks to a try in the last minutes…

Sport

Can Stade Rochelais win the Champions Cup against Leinster without a top scorer?

  • Sport

  • Champions Rugby Cup

  • Rugby

  • the rock

  • Leinster

  • Velodrome stadium

  • Poitou-Charentes