Heineken Cup: Difference between revisions
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Since then the tournament has gone from strength to strength with [[Leicester Tigers]] becoming the first side to succesfully defend their title in 2001 and 2002. [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse's]] victory over French rivals Perpignan in 2003 mean that they joined the Tigers as the only teams to win the title twice. |
Since then the tournament has gone from strength to strength with [[Leicester Tigers]] becoming the first side to succesfully defend their title in 2001 and 2002. [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse's]] victory over French rivals Perpignan in 2003 mean that they joined the Tigers as the only teams to win the title twice. |
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== Heineken Cup pools and full fixture list == |
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Revision as of 21:10, 7 August 2004
The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy.
It began in 1995-96 with a dozen sides representing Ireland, Wales, Italy, Romania (though Romanian teams no longer take part) and France. English and Scottish teams did not compete until 1996-7. From an inauspicious beginning in Romania, where Toulouse thrashed Farul Constanta 54-10 in front of a small crowd, the competition gathered momentum and crowds grew. Toulouse went on to become the first European rugby champions.
Brive won the next tournament and reached the final again in 1997-98 but were beaten late in the game by Bath with a penalty kick. However English clubs had decided to withdraw from the competition.
The 1998-99 tournament revolved around the Celtic fringes, France and Italy. For the fourth consecutive year a French club, in the shape of Colomiers from the Toulouse suburbs, reached the final. But it was Ulster playing at Lansdowne Road, Dublin who carried home the trophy after a 21-6 win.
English clubs returned in 1999 and the tournament really took off. The pool stages were spread over three months to allow the competition to develop alongside the nations’ own domestic competitions, and the knockout stages were scheduled to take the tournament into the early spring.
Since then the tournament has gone from strength to strength with Leicester Tigers becoming the first side to succesfully defend their title in 2001 and 2002. Toulouse's victory over French rivals Perpignan in 2003 mean that they joined the Tigers as the only teams to win the title twice.
Pools for the 2004/05 Heineken Cup:
POOL 1: London Wasps, Calvisano, Biarritz Olympique, Leicester Tigers.
POOL 2: Benetton Treviso, Leinster, Bath Rugby, Bourgoin.
POOL 3: Llanelli Scarlets, Glasgow Rugby, Northampton Saints, Toulouse.
POOL 4: Munster, Neath-Swansea Ospreys, Castres Olympique, Harlequins.
POOL 5: Edinburgh Rugby, Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons, Newcastle Falcons.
POOL 6: Stade Francais Paris, Ulster, Cardiff Blues, Gloucester.
Heineken Cup Rules
The Heineken Cup will have extra spice this season with the introduction of bonus points
Six pools of four teams to play both home and away games. Four points for a win Two for a draw One point for a loss by 7 or less One point for scoring four tries or more
Quarter-finals
The six Pool winners (ranked 1-6 by number of points scored) and two best placed runners-up (ranked 7 and 8) will qualify for the Quarter-Finals.
Teams ranked 1-4 will have home advantage. The Quarter-Finals will be Team 1 v Team 8 Team 2 v Team 7 Team 3 v Team 6 Team 4 v Team 5
Semi-finals & Final
All matches are played at neutral venues. Each of the two semi-final venues will be in the country of the first team out of the hat when the draw is made (eg Northampton v Llanelli was played at Reading, Toulouse v Munster was played in Bordeaux)
Winners
By Year
- 1995/1996 Toulouse
- 1996/1997 Brive
- 1997/1998 Bath
- 1998/1999 Ulster
- 1999/2000 Northampton Saints
- 2000/2001 Leicester Tigers
- 2001/2002 Leicester Tigers
- 2002/2003 Toulouse
- 2003/2004 London Wasps
By Total Wins
| Ranking | Club | Times won |
|---|---|---|
| 1= | Leicester Tigers | 2 |
| 1= | Toulouse | 2 |
| 3= | Bath | 1 |
| 3= | Brive | 1 |
| 3= | Northampton Saints | 1 |
| 3= | Ulster | 1 |
| 3= | Wasps | 1 |