Leinster are also back where they won their fourth Champions Cup in 2018. The shimmering, oval-shaped San Mam\u00e9s Stadium really does look a picture in the sun, the matching white panels glittering by day and lit up at night. It\u2019s a cool stadium \u2013 the biggest in the Basque Country \u2013 in the heart of a cool city and for a variety of reasons, it perhaps favours the team from less than four hours up the road.<\/p>\n
Eight years ago, Leinster\u2019s win over Racing 92 was played out under torrential rain clouds at Athletic Bilbao\u2019s stadium. <\/p>\n
This time, ironically, Bilbao has been hit with a heatwave and temperatures of 27 degrees are forecast at kick-off. But Caelan Doris, in his own inimitable way, seemed unperturbed about the prospect of playing in the most stifling conditions he and his teammates will have experienced in some while. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously very different to back home, but we have all played in conditions like this with humidity and temperatures right up there,\u201d he said. \u201cA few of us were talking about how the Romania game in the World Cup was something similar and maybe a bit higher. You just get on with it. <\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we\u2019ve got some challenges, which the medical and nutrition team have mapped out for us. Just break it (the game) down to smaller pieces in your mind instead of one big thing you\u2019re tackling. Yeah, moment by moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Union Bordeaux B\u00e8gles<\/a> (UBB) players ought to be more au fait with playing in such heat, although not of late, as their captain Maxime Lucu admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it\u2019s hot, especially when it\u2019s one of the first times in a while, we absolutely have to consider it,\u201d he said, before echoing Doris in highlighting their nutritional staff. <\/p>\n \u201cWith the heat, there will inevitably be periods of weakness and we\u2019ll have to dig deep to find the energy we need,\u201d he said, while also pointing out that the increased perspiration could make the ball tricky. \u201cBut I\u2019d rather play in weather like this, a final at 3:45pm (2.45pm Irish time), than in wind and rain. We like to play under the sun, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n The final is, of course, taking place in a football stadium, which Leo Cullen said is 60 metres wide compared to 70 at the Aviva. To further illustrate how this is more of a home match for UBB, Lucu himself was born in the gorgeous coastal town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the southwest corner of France between Biarritz and San Sebastian. He is one of five Basque players in their squad who received replica jerseys from Athletic Bilbao. <\/p>\n Even so, with the finalists only receiving 2,000 tickets each, and all 53,331 tickets sold, it will also be intriguing to see how the support matches up. Much like the match itself.<\/p>\n France have held a five-year grip on this trophy. Much like Toulon\u2019s three-in-a-row team from 2013-15 on and, more recently, La Rochelle, UBB are the Top 14\u2019s latest nouveau Euro kingpins. They have beaten the French champions and the Premiership champions and are now looking to complete the treble by overcoming the URC champions. <\/p>\n They probably have the most potent outhalf\/winger attacking combination in world rugby. It could mean this is the ultimate 80-minute test for a high-risk, high-reward, outside-in, blitz defence. It is a blueprint with Jacques Nienaber written all over it.<\/p>\n Matthieu Jalibert\u2019s vision, footwork, acceleration, passing range and kicking were almost uncontainable in last season\u2019s final against Northampton<\/a>. He has a particular fiendish chip which Jamison Gibson-Park will surely be entrusted to cover whenever possible.<\/p>\n Just three minutes into their quarter-final against Toulouse, Lucu immediately kicked turnover ball from inside his own 22 downfield for Louis Bielle-Biarrey to make Romain Ntamack look like he was jogging on the spot.<\/p>\n![\"Maxime](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AB4CV4LBYFEKXE4MSJHZI4KI4A.jpg\")
Maxime Lucu of Union Bordeaux B\u00e8gles with attack coach Noel McNamara at San Mam\u00e9s Stadium, Bilbao. Photograph: Dan Sheridan\/Inpho <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767177708414-69197743-5ee2-4403-b94c-9a36cd6b79cd.jpeg\"\/)
Can Leinster break their European hoodoo?<\/p>\n![\"Leinster](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GWPKJWE645C27E54JMVKZXUTGU.jpg\")
Leinster players get acquainted with Athletic Bilbao’s home stadium ahead of the Champions Cup final. Photograph: Dan Sheridan\/Inpho <\/p>\n
![\"Harry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/QLSRLEML6VBDLFXSPKDPZ4PEJM.jpg\")
Harry Byrne and Dan Sheehan of Leinster during Friday’s captain’s run at San Mam\u00e9s Stadium, Bilbao. Photograph: Nick Elliott\/Inpho <\/p>\n