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Thu 4 Dec 2014 | 02:01
Looking back at the first ever European Cup match in 1995

6
Comments

European club rugby returns this weekend with fixtures that are crucial to the qualification hopes of clubs in both the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. Here is a look at the first ever European Cup match, and a weekend preview.

This short piece celebrates 20-years of European professional club rugby, as it looks back at the very first Heineken Cup match that took place this week way back in 1995, in Romania.

This coming weekend however, the leading clubs in three of the five Champions Cup pools will battle it out, with RC Toulon and ASM Clermont Auvergne – currently first and second in the Top 14 – as well as PRO12 table-toppers, Munster, all involved in key match-ups.

Leicester Tigers, who will break the one million fans barrier for European matches at Welford Road, host reigning champions, Toulon, in Pool 3 on Sunday with the French heavyweights aiming for a 10th successive victory in Europe's top flight. The clubs have met once before in Europe with Toulon emerging 21-15 winners in the 2013 quarter-final at Stade Mayol.
 
The Pool 1 clash of Munster and Clermont on Saturday will stir memories of previous big European games between the clubs, notably the 2013 semi-final in Montpellier when Clermont came through 16-10. A win for Munster at their Thomond Park citadel would bring up a 100th win in European competition (including one in the Challenge Cup) for the club.
 
Toulouse are also on the cusp of a piece of history as a victory over Pool 4 leaders, Glasgow Warriors, at Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday would mean a 100th win in Europe's top tier. In-form Glasgow will have other ideas and will be looking for a reprise of 2009 when they pulled off a rare success on French soil with a 33-26 win against the four-time tournament champions.
 
Two more unbeaten clubs go head-to-head in Round 3 with the Twickenham Stoop a sell-out for the visit of Leinster Rugby who are second to Harlequins in Pool 2 only on points difference.

View the fixtures for all ten Round 3 matches

TV Coverage this weekend:
All 20 Champions Cup games will be broadcast live either on BT Sport or Sky Sports with extensive coverage in France. The action will also be televised in the USA on ESPN, in Asia on Setanta, in Australia on beIN Sports, in South Africa on Supersport and in the Pacific Islands on Digicel.

Credit: European Rugby Champions Cup/Total Rugby

Posted By: Grant Constable

6 Comments

  • rugbydump
    2:52 PM 06/12/2014

    Please keep it on topic. You can contact RD via email or social media if you'd like to discuss something else, or moan. :)

  • 4lc4tr4z
    3:57 PM 05/12/2014

    Time flies really, really fast...

  • finedisregard
    5:09 AM 05/12/2014

    Ah the white athletic tape with electrical tape over the wrists, you don't see that as much anymore. Remember the breathe-right strips on the nose that every SA player wore for about two years in the 90's? Heady days.

  • 10stonenumber10
    11:44 PM 04/12/2014

    I guess the Pirates are still out sailing the Seven Servers. It has been a busy week with all the Sony pictures "leaks". Hopefully they will be back to port soon with rare, short life-span HD treasures on youtube, and highlights that are free from the will of geographical copyrights.

    Once it is on youtube it is fair game, it gives someone somewhere a job to take it down too, they are usually too smart for the auto filters.

  • stroudos
    9:22 PM 04/12/2014

    Oi! What's all this "way back in 1995" business? Not that bloody long ago.....





    Oh Christ, it is, isn't it.

  • drg
    8:53 PM 04/12/2014

    Whilst looking at this completely free, information packed website from the comfort of my armchair, I'm going to have a little moan RD... We've nearly reached the weekend and from those dates it'll be an entire week from some brilliant international rugby which has yet to be particularly highlighted on here.

    Of course I know things have perhaps gotten a bit tighter on the copyright front ever since you've become a big hit and have become famous - I was around in the old days (#beforeyouwerefamous), but it seems to me there's less coverage than usual.

    Anyway, I shall continue to feverishly browse your website in the next few days at only the cost of the electricity in the hope that you hurry and put up something.

    P.s. whilst we're on a moaning topic, lets bring out the next TSRB's :) ...tbh, you might as well, the series is surely coming to an end, next will be Penalty Kickers Feather Tackles... or something namby pamby like that...

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