Home > Rugby Union > Events > Heineken Cup History

The History of The Heineken Cup

Although The Heineken Cup only began in 1995, it has rapidly become one of the top events in the rugby union calendar and a number of developments have taken place in the competition.

Here is a brief history of The Heineken Cup:

1995/6: The first Heineken Cup competition took place in this season. The competition was the idea of what was then known as The Five Nations Committee, and was intended to provide a new level of competition for European Rugby Union clubs. Twelve teams from five countries (Ireland, France, Wales, Italy and Romania) competed. Both the English and Scottish Rugby Unions declined to take part in the event because they already had heavy domestic schedules. The winners of the four pools of three teams automatically went through to the semi-finals. The first Heineken Cup final was won by Toulouse, who beat Cardiff 21 - 18 at Cardiff Arms Park on 6 January 1996.

1996/7: This was a significant year in the history of The Heineken Cup because English and Scottish rugby union teams competed for the first time. This meant that the number of teams competing increased to 20, which were organised into four pools of five. The final, which was watched by an international television audience of 35 million, was won by French club Brive, who beat Leicester 28 - 9 at Cardiff Arms Park.

1997/8: This year's competition resulted in the first Heineken Cup win for an English rugby union team, when Bath beat trophy-holders Brive 19 -18 in the final, which was held at Stade Lescure in Bordeaux, France.

1998/9: This was a key year in the history of the Heineken Cup because the English Rugby Union again declined to take part. This decision was due to a dispute between the English Rugby Football Union and the European Rugby Union over money and the scheduling of the fixtures in the tournament. As a result, only sixteen teams competed in four pools of four and reigning Heineken Cup champions Bath were unable to defend their title. The final was won by Ulster, the first Irish team to win the trophy, when they beat French team Colomiers 21 - 6 at Lansdowne Road.

1999/00: A resolution of the issues between the English Rugby Union and the Heineken Cup organisers meant that English teams returned to the competition this year. One of the key debates had been over the scheduling of the fixtures in the tournament, which were putting pressure on clubs with busy domestic schedules and, as a result, the final was moved from its traditional January date to May. In this year The French lost the record for having one of their teams in every Heineken Cup Final, but a new record was set when the knockout stage was reached by clubs from four nations for the first time (England, Ireland, France and Wales). England's return to the tournament was marked in style when Northampton beat Munster 9 - 8 at Twickenham.

2000/01: Another English victory occurred this year, when Leicester Tigers beat the French team Stade Français 34 - 30 in the final at Parc des Princes in Paris.

2001/02: Leicester Tigers made Heineken Cup history this year, by becoming the first club to win the title two years running. They retained their title by beating Munster 15 - 9 in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

2002/03: This year The Heineken Cup returned to France when Toulouse became the second club to win the trophy twice, beating Perpignan 22 - 17 in an all-French final at Lansdowne Road.

2003/04: Reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulouse couldn't retain their title this year although they did reach the final. They were finally defeated by London Wasps 20 - 27 at Twickenham. This first Heineken Cup win for the Wasps was also the fifth time the tournament had been won by an English club.

2004/05: Toulouse did manage to win the Heineken Cup back this year, making Heineken Cup history in the process by becoming the first club to win the tournament on three occasions. Their historic final win was over fellow French team Stade Français, at Murrayfield, and Toulouse won by 18-12.

For the latest odds on the Heineken Cup from a range of bookmakers and betting exchanges, visit our Latest Odds section.

The Heineken Cup is only one of many events in the rugby union calendar. Check out other rugby union events!

If you are new to betting and want to place a bet on the Heineken Cup be sure to check out our Rugby Union - How To Bet section for some betting hints and tips.

Add to del.icio.us