The Lions' unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end this afternoon as they fell 24 - 6 to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
The hosts were missing injured Springboks Lukhanyo Am and Eben Etzebeth, among others, and were playing just eight days after lifting the European Challenge Cup in London, but were competitive to the end.
Leinster missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the United Rugby Championship after suffering a 44-12 defeat to Emirates Lions at Emirates Airline Park.
Ospreys kept alive their hopes of an end of season play-off spot with an impressive 36-21 bonus-point win over Emirates Lions in Swansea.
Despite the Lions having lock Ruben Schoeman red-carded after 26 minutes, they claimed a bonus-point victory.
Henco van Wyk and Edwill van der Merwe claimed two tries apiece as the Emirates Lions eased to a convincing 61-19 bonus-point success over Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship.
Ulster came from behind to beat the Lions 24-17 at a windswept Kingspan Stadium scoring three tries to the visitors’ two in game which was in the balance throughout.
Henco van Wyk’s last-gasp try saw the Emirates Lions secure a thrilling 24-23 BKT United Rugby Championship win and hand Scarlets their first home defeat for more than a year.
The Bulls closed in on the URC playoffs with a 78-12 thrashing of Zebre Parma in Johannesburg. Wing Canan Moodie claimed a hat-trick as the Bulls scored 11 tries and fly-half Johan Goosen kicked 23 points.
Cardiff moved level on points with Connacht, who play on Saturday, for the final play-off place but they had to cling on in Italy following the sin-binning of flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes.
