The title compound features a five-membered Ru-5 ring embedded in a La-14 hexagonal wheel-like cage, an incommensurate combination of the two building units. A formal electron partition of (La3+),(Cl-)(20)(Ru-5)(22-) results in a (Ru-5)(22-) ring isoelectronic to (Cd-5)(2-). However, computational studies show that there is significant electron back-donation from the Ru-5 ring to the La-14 wheel. This interaction strongly stabilizes the Ru-5 ring. The resistivity and magnetic susceptibility of the compound have also been investigated.