Leinster defeats Bulls 36-7 to claim back-to-back United Rugby Championship titles

Leinster defeated the Pretoria Bulls 36-7 in the United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park on Friday. Caelan Doris left the field injured after seven minutes. He had recovered from a knee injury sustained in Leinster’s semi-final victory over the Stormers before the final.

Doris sustained a foot injury during the match. " Jack Conan replaced Doris and scored one of Leinster’s five tries. Sam Prendergast was named player-of-the-match. Leinster won back-to-back United Rugby Championship titles with victories over the Bulls in both finals.

Doris said the squad had turned the page on their European Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux-Begles last month. "To see us front up physically, it goes a long way to beating the Bulls," Doris said. " Doris said the foot problem’s impact on his departure for Australia would be assessed over the next 24 hours.

Ireland’s Nations Championship opener against Australia is scheduled in Sydney in two weeks. Ireland are scheduled to face Japan on 11 July and New Zealand one week after 11 July. James Lowe is leaving Leinster after nine years.

He scored a record 71 tries in 101 appearances for the province. Rieko Ioane is returning to the Blues after a one-year sabbatical with Leinster. Luke McGrath is joining French club Perpignan. Jerry Cahir, Ciaran Frawley and Will Connors are all moving to Connacht.

Doris said the impending departures provided a significant motivating factor. "There are a lot of big characters leaving the squad and that was a massive motivation to get it right and thankfully we were able to do that," he said. " "We have a number of unbelievable characters leaving and it's good to give them a few nice days celebrating," he said.