The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the latest Sunderland news and updates delivered straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Saracens rugby stars celebrated becoming European Champions by partying in Newcastle's new Banyan Bar. The London side beat Leinster 20-10 at St James' Park in Saturday's Heineken Cup Final, to be be crowned the club game's top Northern Hemisphere side. And where better for Saracens to toast their success than the city they won their crown in? The squad were invited to Banyan's upstairs bar for a private party on Saturday night. Stars including England fly-half Alex Lozowski, Sunderland-born Jackson Wray, England prop Mako Vunipola and Lions man Owen Farrell were pictured enjoying themselves in the recently-opened bar near Monument. (Image: Banyan Newcastle) Some Saracens players even wore their Heineken Champions Cup medals for the celebration. Martin Wolstencroft, Chief Executive of Banyan's owners, Arc Inspirations, said: “ Newcastle was buzzing and we had a wonderful, trouble-free weekend as hosts to thousands of fans from all sides competing in the finals this weekend. "Welcoming the Heineken Champions Cup winners, Saracens to Banyan Bar & Kitchen on Saturday night was a fantastic honour for us all. (Image: Banyan Bar & Kitchen) "It offered the team and its backroom staff a chance to savour the moment as Europe’s best club rugby side in privacy and style. It would be wonderful to think we could play our part in bringing back to Newcastle such a massive celebration of elite rugby." And it wasn't just Saracens celebrating on Saturday night. Rugby fans pumped £35m into Newcastle's economy over the 'record breaking' Heineken Cup weekend .<doc-sep>Get the latest North East What's On news delivered straight to your inbox - sign up for free email updates Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Visitors from abroad are no doubt finding out that Newcastle knows how to party as the city revels in the sport spotlight. Rugby fans from France were among the first to arrive to soak up the Heineken Cup weekend action and were seen around town soaking up the sights and sounds - and the party atmosphere. With the weather taking a turn for the better, ahead of Friday's La Rochelle and ASM Clermont Auvergne game at St James' Park, there was certainly plenty for them to enjoy at the city's fan zones and food market. And, with the Leinster and Saracens Heineken Cup Final to follow on Saturday, the main entertainment programme will be continuing right up to that night's grand fireworks finale. The not-to-be-missed display will be taking place on Newcastle Quayside , home to the official Champions Rugby Village fan zone. This will be the place to be on Saturday night and the time of the display is now 10.30pm. Before that, the live music entertainment on the quayside stage will be provided by The Ska Toons from 8pm until 9pm.<doc-sep>England and Saracens forward Billy Vunipola scored his side's second try Heineken Champions Cup final Leinster (10) 10 Try: Furlong Con: Sexton Pen: Sexton Saracens (10) 20 Tries: Maitland, Vunipola Cons: Farrell 2 Pens: Farrell 2 Saracens came from behind to win their third European title in four years with a 20-10 victory over Leinster in the Champions Cup final at St James' Park. The Irish side held a 10-point lead until the 39th minute but Sarries drew level when Sean Maitland's try cancelled out Tadhg Furlong's opener. Both defences stood firm after the interval but Owen Farrell kicked Saracens in front just before the hour. Victory was sealed when Billy Vunipola crashed over from the back of a scrum. Farrell kicked the conversion as the Londoners scored 20 unanswered points and put in a dominant second-half performance, despite losing both their starting props to injury in the first half. Saracens - who become the first English side to win three Champions Cups after ending their European campaign unbeaten - will play a Premiership semi-final later this month as they continue to pursue the double, while Leinster remain on course to defend their Pro14 title. Farrell wins the battles of the 10s The 2019 Champions Cup final was dubbed as the battle of the fly-halves as international heavyweights Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton renewed their rivalry, in front of nearly 52,000 spectators at Newcastle United's home ground. Both players were 100% successful off the tee but it was Englishman Farrell who was the more influential as Saracens avenged last year's quarter-final defeat. The England captain produced moments of excellence to draw his side level at half-time, having only conceded seven points with Maro Itoje in the sin-bin after waves of relentless Leinster running. Farrell kicked the penalty to get Sarries on the scoreboard before his deft pass allowed Maitland an easy run-in to score their opening try, in a move BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Matt Dawson believed was "straight off the training ground". Sexton ran more metres and made more passes than his opposite number after opening the scoring with an early penalty, but Farrell's game management in the critical moments allowed his side to gain an advantage. The trophy's journey back to England was all-but confirmed when Vunipola dived over with 13 minutes remaining as the England forward continues to impress after a controversial few weeks. Vunipola was booed again, this time by the vociferous Leinster support, for his controversial social media post defending the now-sacked Australian international Israel Folau's assertion that "hell awaits" gay people. Saracens will be hoping Vunipola's late injury to his left shoulder is not too serious as they return to domestic rugby looking to claim more silverware. Leinster's early work undone With just a minute remaining of the first half, the plan for defending champions Leinster had been effective. The Irish province were more mobile at the breakdown and they looked to bully Saracens into submission up front, as the north London side lost props Mako Vunipola and Titi Lamositele to injury as early as the 29th minute. Itoje was sent to the bin for his part in an accumulation of penalties close to the Sarries line just a minute later, before Furlong powered over from close range for the game's first try. But when Saracens - with captain Brad Barritt leading from the front - regained their composure, Leinster found it difficult to contain their fast and fluid game. Saracens made 12 offloads compared to Leinster's four as they looked to keep the ball alive and stretch the game with strike runners Liam Williams and Maitland. The English side were more clinical in the right areas, and while Leinster had 56% possession, they struggled for creativity and were unable to penetrate Saracens' defence - scoring only three points while Sarries had 15 players on the pitch. Saracens set to dominate for years? England World Cup winner Matt Dawson on BBC Radio 5 Live: That was a magnificent turnaround by Saracens. Who says they can't win it again and again and again over the next few years? Most of the team will be around for several years yet. It's a ridiculously talented squad with great coaches and infrastructure. They have been absolutely brilliant today. BBC rugby correspondent Chris Jones: At 10-0 up Leinster looked in control, but in a week of sporting comebacks, Sarries dug deep, scoring a brilliant try through Sean Maitland. In the final quarter Sarries were astonishingly relentless and Billy Vunipola's powerful try was the killer blow as Leinster ran out of steam. It's three Champions Cups in four years for Saracens and, given the hunger and age of this squad, this legacy will only grow. European Champions Cup final wins 4: Toulouse, Leinster 3: Saracens, Toulon 2: Leicester, Munster, Wasps 1 : Brive, Northampton, Ulster, Bath Man of the match - Brad Barritt Saracens captain Brad Barritt has become only the second man, after Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, to win three European titles as captain. The centre led by example as he completed a remarkable 28 tackles, made 54 metres across 16 carries and was deservedly named man of the match. 'It's a game of small margins' - what they said Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell said: "It's a massive occasion for the whole club. It's not just about the lads on this pitch, everybody that's behind the scenes makes this club what it is. "We were playing against a really good team who've got to back-to-back finals and they tested us. But this is a tight-knit group and that's what makes us good. "Billy's played well and that's what he does on a regular basis. It's not just off-field stuff, it's other things as well and we've allowed it to make us tighter. You saw that today." Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton said: "It's a game of small margins. We were 10-3 up and had the ball in their half and decided to go for an attacking play. "I thought we could have won it and scored ourselves which would have put the foot on their throat, but they are a champion side and they scored instead. "At the start of the second half we started really well but we didn't take our chances close to their line. They made their pressure tell and we didn't. "There were a few decisions that didn't go our way and we felt there was a knock-on before that second try." Line-ups Leinster: R Kearney; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton (capt), McGrath; Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Fardy, O'Brien, Conan. Replacements: Tracy for Cronin (51), J McGrath, Bent for Furlong (70), Ruddock, Deegan for Toner (74), O'Sullivan, R Byrne, O'Loughlin. Saracens: Goode; Williams, Lozowski, Barritt (c), Maitland; Farrell, Spencer; M Vunipola, George, Lamositele, Skelton, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, B Vunipola. Replacements: Gray, Barrington for Lamositele (29), Koch for M Vunipola (29), Isiekwe for Skelton (62), Burger for B Vunipola (75), Wigglesworth for Spencer (56), Tompkins, Strettle. Attendance: 51,930 Referee: Jerome Garces (Fra)<doc-sep>
Thousands of French rugby fans have descended on Newcastle for a crunch clash at St James' Park . They are in town to watch ASM Clermont Auvergne take on La Rochelle in the European Challenge Cup, one of the biggest fixtures in the rugby calendar. The all-French tie is the latest high-profile match to be held at the stadium in recent years. Even more rugby fans are in town for Saturday's Heineken Cup, which will see heavyweights Saracens and Leinster battle it out for European club rugby's most prestigious trophy. (Image: Newcastle Chronicle) According to Newcastle Airport, more than 7,500 fans are expected to jet into the North East for the match. The fan zone on the Quayside was at the centre of festivities - and, suitably, the sun even came out for the visitors. Clermont fan Julien Pelloux, 52, said: "I like this city very much, the town centre is very nice and fan zone is brilliant. "Newcastle has good pubs and good beer - what more could you want? "Will we win? You shouldn't even need to ask." Another Clermont fan, Piere Frederic, said: "It's a beautiful city - we've only been here for one night but we like it very much. "I hope we win it but we'll enjoy our stay anyway." Even though La Rochelle headed into the match as underdogs, their fans were in high spirits while soaking up the atmosphere before the game. "We're enjoying Newcastle very much even though it's a long way from home", Gerald Couturier said. (Image: Newcastle Chronicle) "We're flying back in the middle of the night so we're only here for twelve hours - but it's been totally worth it. "Confident? We're the underdogs but we've got the spirit and the speed. "We've never lost a final - but we've never been to one either." Airport bosses are also expecting large number of Irish fans to fly in for Leinster versus Saracens. (Image: Newcastle Chronicle) The games have also attracted fans of other domestic club who have made the journey to Newcastle to watch as spectators. Leicester fan Steve Payne, 58, from Coventry, said: "Newcastle already has a good rugby team and is getting a reputation as a really good place to come and watch the sport. "Plus, it's always a great night out so I think fans are happy games are being held here." Nick Jones, chief executive at Newcastle International Airport, said: “Holding great sporting events like this in the North East is a fantastic opportunity for the region, and we are pleased to play a part in what is going to be a memorable set of cup finals."