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Rugby-Fast start fires Leinster to United Rugby Championship title

Rugby-Fast start fires Leinster to United Rugby Championship title

The Star19 hours ago

(Reuters) -Three early tries helped Irish side Leinster to a comprehensive 32-7 victory over South Africa's Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final in Dublin on Saturday and a record-extending ninth title.
The hosts were clinical with their early burst as the rain poured down, with number eight Jack Conan, centre Jordie Barrett and flanker Josh van der Flier crossing the line, before Fintan Gunne's late try finished off an outstanding display.
The Pretoria-based Bulls have now lost three of the last four URC finals in another major disappointment, even if they were underdogs against a team packed with players in the British & Irish Lions squad travelling to Australia this month.
Hooker Akker van der Merwe scored the visitors' only try as Leinster made up in part for their recent shock home semi-final defeat by Northampton Saints in the European Champions Cup.
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)

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