Huge boost for Leinster as French star ruled out of Champions Cup final

Racing 92's Champions Cup final preparations have been dealt a massive blow as Maxime Machenaud has been ruled out of the decider against Leinster.

The French scrum half picked up a knee ligament injury in the Top 14 win over Bordeaux at the weekend and has been ruled out for the rest of the season as a result. Machenaud is also the Racing captain and he was instrumental in the ripping apart of Munster just last week. The number 9 scored a try that day too and his absence will be a big one for the French outfit who are already facing an uphill task against a vicious-looking Leinster outfit. The teams meet in the Champions Cup final on May 12 in the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, but without their European Player of the Year nominee, Racing will be considerably weaker. Racing could look to 25-year-old Xavier Chauveau to fill the void.