Dublin side Leinster European rugby champs

Leinster were crowned European club rugby kings for the third time in four seasons in the all-Ireland final at Twickenham on Saturday.

Flanker Sean O'Brien, props Cian Healy and Heinke Van der Merwe, and hooker Sean Cronin scored the tries as the champions from southern Ireland retained their title with a crushing 42-14 victory over their northern rivals Ulster.

That gave New Zealand lock Brad Thorn a unique global three-title sweep of World Cup, European Cup and Super Rugby honours.

Thorn, 37, was part of the All Blacks' World Cup-winning squad last year and won the old Super 14 title with Canterbury Crusaders in 2008.

The multi-faceted Thorn also won four Australian rugby league titles with the Brisbane Broncos in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2006.

With the All Blacks, for whom he has won 59 caps, he played in three Tri-Nations winning sides in 2003, 2008 and 2010.

A record European Cup Final crowd of 81,774 watched another outstanding performance from the Dubliners who were simply too strong, too skilful and too good for their well-defeated rivals.

"It will take a couple of days to properly set in. After winning one we said we weren't content and we wanted to create a dynasty. This team wants to win more," said Leinster star centre Brian O'Driscoll.

Leinster, with a gameplan based on slick handling and a swarming defence, scored five tries.

Jonathan Sexton hit three conversions and two penalties, and Fergus McFadden nailed a conversion, while Ulster managed only three penalties from South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar and a Dan Tuohy try in reply.

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