When the Heineken European Cup was inaugurated in 1995, thanks to the vision of a few, and Ireland's Tom Kiernan and Vernon Pugh of Wales in particular, it started in humble enough circumstances.
One of the important motives for the establishment of the competition was to give players experience at a high level below the full internationals. And with the Super 12 series having been established in the southern hemisphere, it was hoped that the European Cup would provide a competition of a similarly high standard north of the equator. It was a commendable and worthy motive.
It is a worthwhile exercise, particularly in the current climate of the game, to reflect on the happenings in the competition since it was inaugurated. We have had attempts to halt it, to stifle it and, by England, to change it radically to suit their needs without regard for the consequences for others. Memory is fresh of the famous document produced by the English Union when they claimed they had French support for their "blueprint". The problem was the French never had given such support and made it implicitly clear.
So the European Cup certainly has not been free from the controversial elements; not much is in rugby in these times. But it has evolved into a great competition and the only pity is that it cannot be expanded because of difficulties in relation to the French and their domestic set-up. But that could well change within two years and hopefully will. Now we have yet another proposal for a Celtic League as an additional competition. I cannot say I have much enthusiasm for that, but the implications of a Celtic League and all that is embraced in it, and its effect on the clubs, are worthy topics for another day. When one looks at the current European Cup and the way it has grown, one should bear in mind the forecasts made of a rapid demise. Only 12 teams competed in that initial tournament, including three from Ireland (Munster, Ulster and Leinster), three from Wales (Cardiff, Swansea and Pontypridd), and three from France (Toulouse, Begles-Bordeaux and Castres). They were joined by Benetton Treviso and Milan from Italy, and Farul Constanta from Romania.
The English clubs did not participate, a circumstance they attributed not to a lack of will on their part, but to their parent Union, with whom relations could not be termed cordial. One may well ask if anything has changed in that respect.
The Scots were also absentees initially, because at that time they were beginning to sort out their regional teams. Leinster reached the semi-final of the Cup, beating Milan away, and Pontypridd at Lansdowne Road. They then went out at the semi-final stage to Cardiff. Ulster lost both their matches to Cardiff and Begles-Bordeaux, while Munster beat Swansea at Thomond Park and then lost away to an injury time try and conversion to Castres in the most controversial circumstances. Incidentally, that match was not played in Castres because their ground was not deemed suitable. Instead, it took place in a town some distance from Castres.
Swansea, despite losing to Munster, edged them out on points difference, and lost to Toulouse in the semi-final. Toulouse were the inaugural winners, beating Cardiff 21-18 after extra time. It is interesting to reflect on the attendance at the final in Cardiff, 21,800.
How matters have moved on since that initial tournament. In 1996-97, 20 teams competed; the English and the Scots were now in the fold. No Irish side reached the knockout stages, but there were some very good wins by Irish teams. Leinster defeated Pau and Scottish Borders, Munster thrashed a multi-national Wasps team 49-22 in Thomond Park and also beat Milan, but lost to Cardiff and Toulouse. Brive won the Cup, beating Leicester 28-9 in the final, watched his time by over 41,000.
There was no doubt now that the European Cup was well and truly established, and was growing in its appeal. That was reflected in the fact that in 1997-98, while it was still a 20-club competition, there were five groups of four and each team played the other home and away - thus there were six matches at the pool stages instead of four. No Irish side reached the knockout stages and Bath beat Brive in the final. Brive are the only club to have reached two successive finals, an indication of the competitive element of the competition.
The 1998-99 competition had only 16 teams due to an English boycott. But that season a glorious chapter was written in the history of Ulster and Irish rugby. Who can forget those days in Ravenhill and the final in Lansdowne Road?
Then, last season we had 24 teams competing. The English were back in the fold of what was undoubtedly the best European Cup since its inauguration. Munster were foiled at the last hurdle by one point, and I can still see Ronan O'Gara's late penalty drift agonisingly wide. But Munster's campaign was unforgettable. The "famous" Paris Accord decreed that no more than 20 teams compete in the 2000 and 2001 campaigns. The ERC (European Rugby Cup), with infinite wisdom, amended that and stayed with the 24 team formula. Now the competition, which has been extremely good for Irish rugby, is in full swing again, as is the Shield in which Connacht are again competing. Connacht had their hour of glory in that competition a few years ago. Let us hope for another great Irish challenge in Cup and Shield and a productive weekend for the Irish teams, starting with a win for Leinster tonight over Biarritz.
