After a frustrating spell on the sidelines, Andrew Porter is relishing being back as Leinster Rugby chase silverware in both the Investec Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship.
The Ireland prop missed the entire Six Nations with a calf injury before suffering another setback after injuring his arm in Leinster’s Champions Cup Round of 16 win over Edinburgh. But Porter returned in style during Leinster’s semifinal victory over Toulon, producing a Player of the Match display.
“It’s incredibly special for me to be back after a bit of injuries,” Porter said. “We are going from strength to strength. It’s incredibly exciting what we are doing.”
Porter was dominant in the scrum against Toulon while also contributing his trademark ball carrying and defensive work. He praised Leinster’s forward pack after the 29-25 victory at Aviva Stadium.
- More Information On Investec Champions Cup Semifinals
- What's Streaming On FloRugby? Take A Look At The Schedule
- Top 50 Rugby Union Prospects 2026: No. 10-1 | FloRugby Rankings
“I thought the scrum went incredibly well,” he said. “It was a big French pack, but you relish those opportunities in a semifinal.”
Leinster now prepares for a Champions Cup Final against Bordeaux-Bègles in Bilbao on May 23 while also remaining firmly in the hunt to retain the URC title. The Irish province sits fourth in the standings, just three points behind leaders DHL Stormers, with key matches against the Lions and Ospreys remaining.
Despite yellow cards for Porter and Harry Byrne during the Toulon match, Leinster held firm under pressure.
“It was incredible to see how we stuck in with 13 men and dug it out,” Porter said.
Next up is a huge URC clash with the in-form Lions, who have won six straight league matches. Assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal warned Leinster about the danger posed by the Johannesburg side.
“They are extremely cohesive at the moment and playing with a lot of confidence,” Bleyendaal said. “Every point matters at the top of the table.”
With two trophies still within reach, Porter knows the hard work is only beginning.
“There’s still work to do,” he said.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby is also home to match archives and match replays.