Dillyn Leyds has explained why he gave his Champions Cup winner’s medal away upon arriving back in La Rochelle.

The lucky recipient was an eight-year-old La Rochelle fan.

“When I saw that little boy on his dad’s shoulders, crying and trying to get the players’ attention, I felt a big sense of gratitude for everything that had come my way over three seasons at the club and the support we had received from the fans,” Leyds told SA Rugby magazine in a lengthy interview for its next issue.

“Giving him my medal was my way of saying thank you.”

Leyds was given something himself – a yellow fish hat – by a La Rochelle fan in the Aviva Stadium stands after their thrilling 27-26 win against Leinster.

“That celebration wasn’t planned,” he says. “I actually gave the hat to [coach] Ronan O’Gara’s youngest son, and when I asked him for it later, he said he’d lost it!”

@rugby_joe Amazing moment as Dillyn Leyds gifts his Champions Cup winners medal to an 8-year-old, La Rochelle fan ?? #rugby #rugbyunion #rugbylife #rugbyzone ♬ original sound – RugbyJOE