The eyes of the rugby world will be firmly fixed on St. James’ Park in Newcastle on Saturday, when European heavyweights Leinster Rugby and Saracens clash in the 2019 Heineken Champions Cup final. Saracens have won all eight of their European matches this season, sweeping past Lyon, Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors in a flawless pool campaign, before defeating Glasgow for a third time this season, 56-27 in the quarter-finals, and then Munster Rugby 32-16 in their semi-final in Coventry. Leinster have had a more dramatic run to the final, having had a ten-match winning run in the Heineken Champions Cup ended by fellow four-time winners Toulouse 28-27 in Pool 1. However, they responded with four successive victories to clinch a home quarter-final and made full use of that advantage in a battling 21-18 success over fellow Irish province Ulster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium, before reaching a second successive final with a 30-12 win over Toulouse at the same venue. The Irish province boast three EPCR European Player of the Year nominees, including hooker Sean Cronin, who leads the competition in tries scored with six alongside Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale. [jwplayer EQ7qyfrQ] Centre Garry Ringrose – who has racked up 271 metres, seven clean breaks and beaten 33 defenders – and prop Tadhg Furlong, an ever-present in this season’s competition, have also been shortlisted for the prestigious award, with the winner being announced at the conclusion of Saturday’s final. Meanwhile, Saracens have two players up for the prize in full-back Alex Goode – who has played every minute of the 2018-19 campaign, totalling 348 metres and 35 defenders beaten from 80 carries – and prop Mako Vunipola, who won two Heineken Man of the Match awards in the pool stage. Injury ruled the England regular out of Saracens’ quarter-final win, but he returned to help the English side to victory over Munster last month. [jwplayer dYzs8hgG] The two sides last met in the 2017-18 Champions Cup quarter-finals, when Leinster ended Saracens’ dream of three successive victories in the competition with a 30-19 win in Dublin. Leinster remain unbeaten in three European matches against the English side, having beaten them twice in the pool stages en route to a second European Cup crown in 2011. Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell has led the competition in points scored for the last three seasons and sits top at this stage with 79. Fellow No.10 Johnny Sexton heads Leinster’s list with 48.

You can watch live free-to-air coverage of the Heineken Champions Cup final between Leinster Rugby and Saracens on Saturday with Channel 4 and Virgin Media. BT Sport, FR2 and beIN SPORTS will also be showing the clash.