1995–96 Heineken Cup

Background

The Five Nations Committee met in December 1994 to discuss proposals for a multi-national European club competition. It was proposed that the top four teams in Wales, England, France, Ireland and Scotland would compete. Welsh, English and French clubs had welcomed the idea, but the RFU were concerned that it might devalue the Courage League. In May 1995, the Committee gave the go-ahead for a pilot European Cup tournament to be held in the autumn of 1995, and a full competition to follow in 1996. Clubs from England, Wales, France and provincial or divisional sides from Ireland and Scotland, and possibly the top club from Romania, would be invited to compete.

However, English and Scottish teams would be unable to participate as it was too late to change their domestic league schedules to accommodate the new competition. The IRFU confirmed that Ireland would enter provincial teams, as their clubs were unlikely to be strong enough for the competition. They were initially offered two places, but Tom Kiernan, Ireland's representative on the organising committee, was able to secure a third. The three places would go to the top three teams in the 1994 IRFU Interprovincial Championship, Munster, Ulster and Leinster. The three Welsh teams would be the top two in the Welsh Premier Division, Cardiff and Pontypridd, and the winners of the WRU Challenge Cup, Swansea. France entered the top two teams in the 1994-95 French championship, Toulouse and Castres, and cup runners-up Bègles-Bordeaux.

In October, ITV secured the UK TV rights for the competition in a three-year deal, and Dutch brewing company Heineken was announced as the competition's sponsor.

Teams

Pool stage

The twelve teams were arranged into four pools of three, with each team playing the other team in their pool once. Two points were awarded for a win, and one point for a draw. The four pool winners qualified for the knockout stage.

Pool 1

Émile Ntamack (2) Thomas Castaignède David Berty (2) Jean-Luc Cester Penalty try

Massimiliano Perziano (2) Leandro Manteri (2) Alessandro Troncon Nicola Giuliato Julian Gardner Carlo Checchinato

Pool 2

Stephen John Adrian Davies Andy Moore (2)

Denis McBride Philippe Bernat-Salles Sebastien Loubsens Julien Berthe Julien Berthe

Pool 3

Marco Platania Niall Woods

Neil Jenkins

Alan McGowan

Pool 4

Richard Wallace

Garin Jenkins

Seeding

Knockout stage

| RD1-seed1 = 1 | RD1-team1 = FRA Toulouse | RD1-score1 = 30 | RD1-seed2 = 4 | RD1-team2 = WAL Swansea | RD1-score2 = 3

| RD1-seed3 = 2 | RD1-team3 = IRE Leinster | RD1-score3 = 14 | RD1-seed4 = 3 | RD1-team4 = WAL Cardiff | RD1-score4 = 23

| RD2-seed1 = 1 | RD2-team1 = FRA Toulouse (a.e.t) | RD2-score1 = 21 | RD2-seed2 = 3 | RD2-team2 = WAL Cardiff | RD2-score2 = 18

Semi-finals

Taylor 50' c Moore

Manent c Penalty try c

Final

Main article: 1996 Heineken Cup Final

The 1996 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 1995–96 Heineken Cup, the inaugural season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 6 January 1996 at the Arms Park in Cardiff. The match was contested by Cardiff of Wales and Toulouse of France. Toulouse won the match 21–18 after extra time; they took the lead with two tries in the first 10 minutes, but the kicking of Adrian Davies kept Cardiff level. With the scores at 15–12 as the clock ticked past 80 minutes, Davies stepped up again and slotted over a penalty to take the game to extra time. Christophe Deylaud restored Toulouse's lead with another penalty shortly after the game restarted, before Davies tied the scores up again. Then, going into the final few seconds of extra time, the referee penalised Cardiff for using hands in the ruck; Deylaud slotted the resulting penalty to seal Toulouse's victory.

Match details

(a.e.t.) Cazalbou

References

References

1. "Davies warns rugby", ''South Wales Echo'', 8 December 1994
2. "European Cup gets go-ahead", ''Irish Independent'', 19 May 1995
3. Jim Stokes, "Clubs put European Cup top of agenda", ''Ireland's Saturday Night'', 23 September 1995
4. "Ireland confirm Euro entry", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 22 August 1995
5. Jim Stokes, "Ulster to face Cardiff?", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 29 August 1995
6. Paul Rees, "English Euro Cup hi-jack", ''Sport on Sunday'', 20 August 1995
7. Kieran Rooney, "Provinces to play in new European league", ''Irish Independent'', 23 August 1995
8. "ITV secure Euro rugby cup deal", ''Evening Herald'', 25 October 1995
9. Barry Coughland, "Euro League scores", ''Irish Examiner'', 28 October 1995
10. Kieran Rooney, "Quick-fire Cardiff leave Ulster trailing in wake", ''Irish Independent'', 29 November 1995
11. Kieran Rooney, "Brave Ulster denied", ''Irish Independent'', 14 December 1995
12. (1 November 1995). "Munster 17-13 Swansea". EPCR.
13. (8 November 1995). "Castres Olympique 19-12 Munster". EPCR.
14. "Fri 29 December 1995".