Rugby-Northampton edge Leinster in epic European Cup semi-final

Rugby Union - European Champions Cup - Semi Final - Leinster v Northampton Saints - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - May 3, 2025 Leinster's Dan Sheehan in action with Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) -Brilliant Northampton stunned Leinster 37-34 in a breathless Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday with a first-half Tommy Freeman hat-trick leaving the English champions one game away from their first European crown in 25 years.

Northampton, who have only won the competition once, played a perfect first half with Freeman and a try from the brilliant young flanker Henry Pollock giving them a 27-15 lead against a side who did not concede a point in the previous two rounds.