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Gibson-Park, widely assumed to be the leading contender to start at nine in the three-Test series against Australia this summer, pulled out of Leinster's URC final against the Bulls on the morning of Saturday's match.

The Bulls have lost a second URC final in succession, having fallen to Glasgow last year, but it was Leinster's day as they got over their final hoodoo.

The WRU has a contractual commitment to provide four sides for the URC and European commitments and will face financial penalties of around £5m if that is not fulfilled.

"We feel a bit more responsibility to do it for him and make sure that he is lifting that URC trophy up, it might be with one hand at the end of the season!"

Next up for the URC champions is one of European rugby's toughest tests, a last-eight showdown in Dublin with a Leinster side fresh from a 10-try demolition of Harlequins.