Kings and conquerors of Europe collide in London

Leinster and Toulouse in a first-ever final meeting of the pair

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

Tottenham may feel a peculiar place for a clash of rugby royalty but this weekend the battle lines will be drawn up the High Road for a meeting of the kings and conquerors of Europe. Leinster and Toulouse roll into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend as the two dominant dynasties in European club rugby, yet never before have the Gallic and Gaelic giants collided on coronation day.

So much of the recent rugby past has been sung in triumphant French and Irish tones, and a first final between these two feels a fitting climax to the Investec Champions Cup campaign. The pair share nine European titles between them, Leinster bidding to draw level with their French opposition and add a fifth star to their chest - it is peculiar that two perennial contenders have never come together on this stage but this long-awaited collision should be mighty.

"Everyone wants to win but here it's definitely an expectation," Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou said this week. "They're historically successful and they want to keep it that way. To win and win convincingly is always the bar, we don't aim for anything lower. We know what we're capable of. We like our chances and we're going to give it our best."

On and off the pitch, these are two model rugby enterprises. While many have been grown into Galacticos by their environments, both sides are built around a domestic core of homegrown talent. The production lines showing no signs of slowing: centre cadets Paul Costes (Toulouse) and Jamie Osborne (Leinster) will surely soon join their club colleagues in international colours.