Ulster take on defending champions Leinster in an all-Irish Heineken Cup final this Saturday, exclusively live on Sky Sports.
Twickenham will host the showpiece of European club rugby’s biggest competition for the first time in five years, and is one of four live cup finals to be shown on Sky Sports on the same day and will be complemented by Sky’s 3D cameras.
Ulster broke Scottish hearts in the last round, knocking out Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium in the semi-finals.
Jim Thompson’s injury-time try was not enough for the Scots as the boot of Ruan Pienaar helped the Irishmen to a 22-19 win.
That victory sees Brian McLaughlin’s men return to the tournament’s final event for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 1999.
Leinster are chasing their third Heineken Cup triumph in four years.
Last year, Joe Schmidt’s side produced arguably the greatest comeback in Heineken Cup history to beat Northampton in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Trailing 6-22 at half-time, they scored 27 unanswered points in 17 minutes to stun their English rivals.
They fought back once more to beat Clermont Auvergne in this season’s semi-finals.
Trailing 12-6 at half-time, Leinster scored within seconds of the restart and were resolute in defence en route to a 19-15 win.
They will go into the final as heavy favourites after a dominating season on the domestic front, and will be led by legendary Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll, the Dubliners have already completed a league double over Ulster.
Sky Sports will be the only place the 2012 Heineken Cup Final as it happens. Free-to-air highlights will be broadcast on ITV4 on the following Monday evening.
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Sky Sports is the only place to see all the action of the finale to the 2012 Heineken Cup as it happens.
It will be the fourth time that Twickenham has hosted the world’s biggest club rugby match, and on each previous occasion an English club has lifted the trophy.
Alex Payne presents exclusive coverage on Sky Sports 3 from 4.30pm, with features and interviews from both camps in the build-up to the match.
Studio analysis and touchline insights come from a team including Paul Wallace, Tyrone Howe, Will Greenwood and Dean Ryan.
Commentary on the final comes from Miles Harrison and Stuart Barnes.
Coverage will also be available to watch in 3D on the Sky 3D channel.
Saturday 19th May Heineken Cup Final LIVE – Sky Sports 3 – 4.30pm-7.30pm Heineken Cup Final LIVE – Sky 3D – 4.3opm-7.30pm.
Free-to-air highlights of the 2012 Heineken Cup Final will be shown on ITV4 on the following Monday evening.
Craig Doyle will present an hour-long show looking back at all the action from Twickenham, including all the pre and post-match interviews, as well as extended highlights of the showpiece final itself, with commentary from Bob Symonds.
The programme also includes highlights of the Amlin Challenge Cup Final between Biarritz and Toulon, played on the night before the Heineken Cup Final, with commentary from Jonathan Harris-Bass.
Monday 21st May Rugby Highlights: Heineken Cup Final – ITV4 – 7.00pm-8.00pm.
