Leinster need that first step to be certain of the road back

The post Joe Schmidt era has been a rebuilding process for Leinster. Now it’s a mad dash over to show it has borne fruit. The Champions Cup final is the end of the beginning

Luke McGrath and Robbie Henshaw during Leinster Rugby squad training. Pic: Getty

The schedule for teams that do well in rugby has always been dire since order came to the professional era. The sport may have made the switch over two decades ago, but it took a good while to unpack everything when it came to how and when teams played.

The Pro 14 is the clearest example of the process. Ireland was working with interpros while the Welsh/Scottish League was the true beginning of ...