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RugbyU: Leinster add to Stade agony with Challenge Cup win

Leinster shrugged off the absence of star centre Brian O'Driscoll to beat Stade Francais 34-13 on Friday to clinch the European Challenge Cup. It was the Irish side's fourth continental title to add to their 2009, 2011 and 2012 European Cup triumphs. For Stade, it was another story of final heartbreak having lost the 2011 Challenge Cup title match as well as suffering the agony of European Cup final losses in 2001 and 2005. Leinster, who scored four tries, also became just the fourth team to complete the European Cup-Challenge Cup double.

RugbyU: Leinster add to Stade agony with Challenge Cup win

Leinster shrugged off the absence of star centre Brian O'Driscoll to beat Stade Francais 34-13 on Friday to clinch the European Challenge Cup. It was the Irish side's fourth continental title to add to their 2009, 2011 and 2012 European Cup triumphs. For Stade, it was another story of final heartbreak having lost the 2011 Challenge Cup title match as well as suffering the agony of European Cup final losses in 2001 and 2005. Leinster, who scored four tries, also became just the fourth team to complete the European Cup-Challenge Cup double.

RugbyU: Michalak on Toulon bench for European Cup final

Mercurial French half-back Frederic Michalak will start on the bench for Toulon against Clermont in the European Cup final on Saturday. Toulon coach Bernard Laporte stuck with the same starting XV that beat Saracens 24-12 in the semi-final. South African Danie Rossouw has overcome a twisted knee to retain his place in the backrow, with erstwhile captain and compatriot Joe Van Niekerk named among the replacements.

RugbyU: Rebels claim first South African win over Stormers

Australia's Melbourne Rebels celebrated their first victory over South African opposition with a rousing 30-21 Super 15 win over the Western Stormers in Melbourne on Friday. The Rebels stormed home from 21-20 down with six minutes left to down the Cape Town-based Stormers with a contentious penalty try ruling to finish victors. Scrum-half Nick Phipps was ruled to have been held back by Martin Bezuidenhout chasing after a kick ahead and the TMO recommended a penalty try as Phipps dived for the ball with Springbok winger Bryan Habana.

RugbyU: Super 15 - Melbourne Rebels 30 Western Stormers 21

Result of a Super 15 rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and Western Stormers on Friday: Melbourne Rebels (AUS) 30 Western Stormers (RSA) 21 Ht: 13-14 Scorers Rebels Tries - Scott Higginbotham, Hugh Pyle, penalty try; Conversions - Jason Woodward (3); Penalties - Woodward (3) Stormers Tries - Louis Schreuder, Bryan Habana, Andries Bekker; Conversions - Joe Pietersen (3) Referee: Mike Fraser (NZL) afp

RugbyU: Super 15 - Western Force 13 Sharks 23

Result of a Super 15 match between the Western Force and Sharks in Perth on Friday: Western Force (AUS) 13 Sharks (RSA) 23 H-t: 10-7 Scorers Force: Try - Kyle Godwin. Conversion - Jayden Hayward. Penalties - Hayward (2). Sharks: Try - Keegan Daniel, Riaan Viljoen. Conversion - Pat Lambie (3). Penalties - Lambie (2) Referee: James Leckie (AUS) afp

RugbyU: Michalak on Toulon bench for European Cup final

Mercurial French half-back Frederic Michalak will start on the bench for Toulon against Clermont in the European Cup final on Saturday. Toulon coach Bernard Laporte stuck with the same starting XV that beat Saracens 24-12 in the semi-final. South African Danie Rossouw has overcome a twisted knee to retain his place in the backrow, with erstwhile captain and compatriot Joe Van Niekerk named among the replacements.

RugbyU: Chiefs back on top after downing Hurricanes

Defending champions the Waikato Chiefs moved back into top spot on the Super 15 ladder Friday after holding on to beat New Zealand rivals the Wellington Hurricanes 17-12. The Chiefs scored the only try in wet conditions and produced a mighty defensive effort to smother a Hurricanes fightback as both teams notched four penalties in a match where scoring opportunities were scarce. "Any game against the Hurricanes is a tough local derby and the conditions added to that," captain Craig Clark said.

RugbyU: O'Driscoll to play on after IRFU deal

Brian O'Driscoll ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year deal to play on for Ireland and Leinster, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) revealed on Thursday. The Ireland legend had been widely tipped to hang up his boots following the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next month. His previous contract with the IRFU and Leinster was due to end following that tour but has now been extended until June 2014.

RugbyU: Former England wing Voyce retires

Former England wing Tom Voyce has decided to hang up his boots at the age of 32. Voyce, who previously turned out for Bath, Wasps and Gloucester, spent last season with London Welsh, who were relegated from the Premiership. He won nine caps during a career that hit its zenith in a six-year spell at Wasps. The Londoners won the European Cup twice and the Premiership three times during that spell from 2003-2009 while Voyce also scored the fastest ever top-flight try in just 9.63sec against Harlequins in 2004.
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