Ronan O’Gara’s side secured a dramatic 24-21 victory over Leinster Rugby in an enthralling Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday to see them lift a maiden European trophy.

In fantastic scenes, around 35,000 fans – some of whom had waited since the early hours of the morning - gathered in La Rochelle’s Old Port to welcome their heroes, who arrived on an open-top bus.

After the bus circled the port to a chorus of cheers, songs and horns, it stopped at the base of the Chain Tower where a big screen replayed the highlights of their stunning victory.

The team’s return home concluded a thrilling European finals weekend in Marseille, which saw a competition-record 51,431 attend Lyon’s EPCR Challenge Cup final triumph over RC Toulon before 59,682 packed into Stade Vélodrome for La Rochelle’s Heineken Champions Cup success.

Next year’s EPCR finals will take place at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 19/20 and tickets are now on sale. Click HERE for more details.

Newly crowned European champions Stade Rochelais returned to La Rochelle on Sunday and were greeted by thousands of jubilant supporters.