The term "going into Europe" was one very often heard in the Sixties and early Seventies, but not in a rugby context. The advantages and disadvantages in the economic and political arenas were for long the subject of animated debate before the entry was duly made.

The concept of a European competition in rugby at club level and or regional levels had, too, been exercising the minds of the French long before The Heineken European Cup became a reality. They saw European competition as a progressive step. But frankly there was not much enthusiasm among the other nations when the idea was initially suggested by the French nor indeed for quite some time after the ground was first and indeed subsequently tested.

The French are, then, to be commended for their vision and foresight, even if it was a happening on the other side of the world that helped concentrate minds in the Northern Hemisphere. There is no doubt that the inauguration of the original Super 10 series now of course Super 12, confined to the provincial teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia was a major factor in the inauguration three years ago of the European Cup.

Putting a European Cup in place in 1995 was not without its hazards and difficulties, but the will and dedication of such as Tom Kiernan and Vernon Pugh, and both are due immense credit, saw the start of a competition that is now not alone very appealing but very important to the game in Europe. It is competition with an international dimension outside the realm of the domestic game in the countries. The addition of the Conference last season was no less commendable.

We have ongoing debate about who should participate in the Heineken Cup and the number of entrants from each country. The regional sides represent Ireland and Scotland, as opposed to clubs from England, France and Wales. But it is pertinent to remember that Scotland, Ireland and indeed Wales and France not to mention South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Italy, Argentina and Fiji are all represented in the England clubs who participate. Market forces prevail as we constantly see in the current climate in which the game is played.

Perhaps it should be borne in mind, too, that when the competition was started England and Scotland were not represented. It is a measure of the difficulties facing Ireland and Scotland that so many of those who played for their national regional sides last season are now playing against them. Changed times, What was that we heard about level playing fields?

As things stand, there is not a viable alternative to having Ireland and Scotland represented by regional teams. If the results over the last three seasons and in particular this season, have proved anything, they have underlined that. What form those regional teams will take in the years ahead, only time will reveal.

What is without argument is that the European concept has been a success. The inaugural competition was won by Toulouse and Leinster reached the semi-final losing narrowly to Cardiff that season. Last year it was a French side that prevailed again when Brive defeated Leicester in the final.

While barring a series of unlikely results this weekend, Ireland will not have a representative in the knock out stages, but hope does spring eternal, there were some very good performances and one could scarcely say that the alleged "luck of the Irish " was very much in evidence. But the issues do of course go beyond that.

One cannot give Connacht sufficient praise for their efforts in the European Conference. Their coach Warren Gatland has done a superb job and the knock on effects for Connacht rugby could be immense. I have been watching Connacht teams for the last half century, but I have never seen teams from the province play with such a consistent level of belief. That is a very important factor. Connacht also have the distinction of being the only Irish provincial side to win in Europe on French soil which they did against Begles. An injury time score deprived the province of also winning in Nice.

In the Heineken Cup, Leinster's win over Leicester was certainly a highlight but unfortunately Leinster's defeat by Milan in Calvisano did immense damage to their hopes of qualification.

Likewise Ulster's loss in the first match at home to Glasgow was a wounding blow in a group that included English champions Wasps and Swansea. But Ulster's win over Swansea at Ravenhill was a very worthy effort.

Munster put up a fine performance away to Harlequins, and the win over Bourgoin at Thomond Park gave Munster a platform for a challenge for a knock out place. But as against Harlequins in London, Munster allowed Cardiff to build a big lead before getting the pieces together at Musgrave Park and despite being very unlucky, paid the ultimate price for their poor start.

The Leinster manager Jim Glennon made a very valid point after Leinster's win over Leicester when he said that Irish sides had a psychological barrier to crash and that at times Irish teams showed the opposition too much respect, that they did not have enough belief in themselves. "That I felt was the mistake we made when we played Toulouse the previous week in Donnybrook," said Glennon.

But the European competitions have been good for Irish rugby. This was the first season when all the Irish provinces had to rely on players from home-based clubs. The decision to contract the provincial players helped and while the financial considerations embraced in an extension of that policy are considerable, the IRFU will look in depth at everything involved. They will look too at extending the provincial fixtures, but here there must be a careful balance in relation to players' availability for the All-Ireland League.

The experience gained by the Irish home based players in Europe is very valuable just as the interprovincials, for all the criticism they get, are a very good preparation for Europe. All four provincial coaches have been emphatic on that point. Mid August is not the best time for rugby, but the new set up in Europe left no alternative but to hold the interprovincials prior to the European competitions. Whatever about the disappointing aspects of some of the results in Europe some candidates have emerged from the provincial teams for the national senior side.

One unsatisfactory aspect of the European competitions has been the inconsistent disciplinary actions taken by those responsible. I am not so much referring to the fines imposed on Brive, Pau, Pontypridd and Llanelli as on a few individuals. In that regard the action last Saturday of the Begles player in striking a spectator in the face after he left the field at the end of the match was unpardonable and totally unprovoked. His club apart from the tournament organisers have a responsibility in this matter I hope they will discharge.