Leinster head coach Leo Cullen speaking at his side's pre-match press conference:

"If you look at the Bulls over the years it's still very focused on power and set-piece. They're still based on some pretty solid fundamentals that they have in their game.

"They have multiple threats because they can go through you and they've got the speed to go round you as well.

"If you'd asked me after we had lost three of our first four games would we be in this situation playing in a final at Croke Park I think everyone would have thought we were crazy.

"It's been an amazing squad effort to get to this stage and it's great to still be playing rugby at this time of year.

"Hopefully we'll have a great day but we know it's going to be a serious challenge because we're up against a serious team.

"We need to be respectful to the opposition but also very focused on ourselves, what makes Leinster great, and we've got some great individuals in our team potentially playing for Leinster for the last time tomorrow so we want to make sure we put in a big performance for all the right reasons."

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Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann speaking at a pre-match press conference:

"You stand out and look at the stadium and you reflect back on the season, the fight that the players have shown, it's a great privilege and it still feels a bit surreal for me.

"We know it can be a great end to a great journey but it's a massive challenge against one of the best teams, if not the best team, in this competition.

"We are under no illusions about that but at least we have given ourselves an opportunity by playing in the final.

"It's all about on the day in finals. There are certain things have to go for you on the day.

"We're confident and we believe in ourselves. We have to be much more accurate than we have been and match Leinster's intensity."

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James Lowe will play his final game for Leinster tonight after it was confirmed recently that he would leave the province at the end of the season after nine years in Irish rugby.

Lowe, 33, joined Leinster in 2017 and has scored a club-record 71 tries in 101 appearances.

The New Zealand-born back has been a hugely influential figure for Ireland, earning 45 caps and scoring 17 tries since his debut in 2020 after qualifying through World Rugby's old three-year residency rule.

He has helped Andy Farrell's side win two Six Nations titles, including the 2023 Grand Slam, and also represented the British and Irish Lions in last year's series win over Australia.

With Leinster, Lowe has won five United Rugby Championship/PRO 14 titles and the 2018 Champions Cup.

"I find it difficult to put into words what Ireland means to me," Lowe said in a statement announcing his imminent departure.

"It's become so much more than a place of work. It's become our home. This country has not only shaped me, it has shaped my career, our family and given us friendship that we will have for the rest of our lives."

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Leinster captain Caelan Doris has been passed fit to start Friday's United Rugby Championship final against the Pretoria Bulls as Tadhg Furlong returns to the line-up.

Ireland skipper Doris was a doubt after picking up a knee injury in the semi-final win over the Stormers but he will lead a side showing three changes for the Croke Park decider (19:30 BST).

Furlong is named at tight-head prop - the three-time British and Irish Lion's first start since April - with Connacht-bound Jerry Cahir replacing the injured Andrew Porter at loose-head

Fit-again Tommy O'Brien returns on the right wing with James Lowe starting on the opposite side in his final game before departing the province.

Hugo Keenan remains at full-back with Rieko Ioane and Jamie Osborne continuing in midfield, while Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast are retained in the half-backs.

Hooker Dan Sheehan is fit enough for a place on the bench after missing the Stormers game, with Ronan Kelleher again picked in the number two shirt.

Joe McCarthy and James Ryan form an unchanged second row with Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier joining Doris in the back row.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O'Brien, Rieko Ioane, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jerry Cahir, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt)

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Garry Ringrose

Bulls: Willie le Roux; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (capt), Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom

Replacements: Marco van Staden, Jan‑Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Jeandre Rudolph, Zak Burger, Stedman Gans, Nizaam Carr

Image source, Inpho

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship final between Leinster and Bulls from the majestic stadium that is Dublin's Croke Park.

While the round ball may be taking centre stage in global sport at the moment, tonight our focus is very much on the oval ball with the United Rugby Championship title up for grabs.

A close contest is anticipated as Leo Cullen's side attempt to retain the crown they won last year by beating the Bulls 32-7 in the decider at the same venue.

The South African side will aim to exact revenge for that defeat and take the silverware back to Pretoria for the first time after losing three of the past four URC finals.

The Bulls clinched their place in the final courtesy of a thrilling single-point win away to Glasgow in the semi-finals while Leinster overcame the Stormers in their hard-fought last-four tie.

The Irish province will hope to make up for the disappointment of missing out on a fifth European Champions Cup success after coming out second best to Bordeaux-Begles in the final in Bilbao last month.

We'll keep you up to date with all the action as it unfolds with our text updates throughout the evening so stay with us, you won't miss any of the drama as it unfolds.

Image source, Inpho