Irish rugby has two teams heading to Bilbao for European finals this weekend, as Leinster and Ulster gear up for a place in history.
Leinster take on heavy favourites Bordeaux Begles in the European Rugby Champions Cup final, while Ulster also face French opposition in the form of Montpellier in the EPCR Challenge Cup final.
This weekend will see the first time an Irish side features in a European rugby final since Leinster lost three consecutive finals between 2022 and 2024.
Though Leinster's record may drag down the overall numbers, let's take a look at how Irish teams as a whole have historically fared in European finals.
Irish teams' record in European Rugby Union finals
Team | Champions Cup final wins | Champions Cup final losses | Challenge Cup final wins | Challenge Cup final losses | Overall % |
Leinster | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 69.2% |
Munster | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50% |
Ulster | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50% |
Connacht | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
Total | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 53.3% |
Irish teams have featured in a total of 15 European finals throughout history, winning eight of them (53.3%) though Connacht are yet to feature in a single one.
Connacht's best performance in a European campaign came via three stints in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi finals - in 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2009/10.
Leinster have appeared at the most European finals out of the four Irish teams, with the Dublin based side featuring in eight Champions Cup finals and a solitary Challenge Cup final in 2012/13.
They are four time European Champions Cup winners - losing the other four - and are the only Irish team to appear at, let alone win, the Challenge Cup, giving them an overall win percentage of 69.2%.
Leinster were crowned champions in 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2017/18, while they lost the 2018/19, 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 finals.
Munster have appeared at four Champions Cup finals in their history, lifting the trophy in 2005/06 and 2007/08, after losing their first two finals in 1999/00 and 2001/02.
This season's Challenge Cup finalists Ulster have appeared at two European finals before this weekend, winning and losing a Champions Cup final in 1998/99 and 2011/12.
