Antoine Dupont leads Toulouse to Champions Cup glory as France’s oval-ball icon successfully launches his golden summer crusade by orchestrating victory over Leinster

Antoine Dupont’s golden summer campaign was successfully launched in north London yesterday as the French oval ball icon claimed the first of what he hopes will be three titles across two formats of rugby.

The Gallic genius was loudly hailed as man of the match at the end of this thrilling Champions Cup final, which took extra time before Toulouse saw off their shattered Irish rivals.

Dupont lifted the trophy to commemorate a sixth cross-border conquest by the competition’s most decorated club, as part of his unique Treble mission. Part two is the Top 14 competition, then – in front of a global audience – he will start part three: the Olympic Games.

Mirroring events further down the road at Wembley, red trumps blue in a thunderous showpiece between familiar foes in one of the capital’s biggest football arenas.

What a match it was, a 100-minute exhibition of what this sport – making another cameo appearance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – looks like at its best. Yet playing their part in such an epic sporting drama will be little consolation for Leinster.

The French side sealed victory over Leinster in extra time after both sides were tied at 15-15 after 80 minutes

Toulouse now turn their attention to the league as they look to win their second title in a row

The Dublin-based county have seen this movie before and they are heartily sick of it: a defeat in the final by a narrow margin against the French opposition. In 2022 it was La Rochelle. Last year it was La Rochelle again.

This year it is Toulouse who deny them a first Champions Cup success since 2018. They wanted to join the five-star club, but Toulouse moved up to six instead.

It wasn’t just the Dupont show. The superhuman scrum-half made a few mistakes for a change, but took his team to the next level with a crucial ruck turnover and a 50-22 kick that was perfect.

His influence grew as the game progressed and there were glimpses of the warrior spirit that underpins his stunning talent.

Even the best player in the world needs some help and Dupont got plenty of it, not least from Blair Kinghorn.

This French achievement was gift-wrapped in tartan. The Scotland full-back kicked four penalties before Thomas Ramos took over – and he was a regal presence at the back, despite a few aerial attacks.

Dupont and Toulouse will now shift their focus to the Top 14 as the league leaders head into the business end of that domestic season. The maestro will then become the poster boy for the Paris Olympics and try to end Fiji’s golden monopoly in Sevens.

Yesterday’s final featured no tries in the first 80 minutes, but no shortage of riveting drama in front of an audience of 61,531 – the largest in a decade. It was fascinating to watch two pedigree teams cancel each other out with ferocity, courage and ruthless dedication.

Leinster have reached the last three European Cup finals but have failed to claim victory

Superhuman scrum-half Dupont (centre) made a few mistakes for a change but took his team to the next level with a crucial ruck turnover and a 50-22

Matthis Lebel (right) thought he had secured victory with a try in the left corner from Romain Ntamack’s cross in extra time

Josh van der Flier (blacked out) touched down in extra time for Leinster, but it wasn’t enough to seal the win

Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn was seen riding a model zebra placed on the field by sponsors

There was a poignant moment for Jack Willis full-time as he took in the jubilant scenes, which will undoubtedly be a career highlight

Matthis Lebel thought he had secured victory with a try in the left corner from Romain Ntamack’s cross 11 minutes before the end of normal time, but his foot hit the touchline. Then Ciaran Frawley hit a last minute drop goal shot for glory but shot wide.

Cards played their part in extra time as James Lowe was convicted of a deliberate knock-on and in his absence Lebel struck in a sweeping long-range strike. Then Richie Arnold was sent off for a shoulder charge into the head of Cian Healy.

When Toulouse had wrapped it up and Kinghorn rode a model zebra placed on the field by the sponsors, Jack Willis walked around with the trophy.

It was a poignant moment for the England flanker – a career highlight that should go some way to easing the frustration of his Test exile. He played his part in launching Dupont’s golden summer.