Heineken Cup



The Heineken Cup (known as the H Cup in France due to restrictions on alcohol sponsorship) is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board (IRB) countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Romania competed in the first year of the competition only. Teams that do not qualify for the Heineken Cup enter the second tier competition, the European Challenge Cup. The Heineken Cup is one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport and has been sponsored by Dutch brewing company Heineken International since the tournament began in 1995. The tournament was launched in the European summer of 1995 on the initiative of the then Five Nations committee to provide a new level of professional cross-border competition.

Each European country uses a different qualifying system, though in total, 24 teams contest the pool stages in six pools of four. According to performances, the number of clubs from each countries changes. The tournament is held from October to May, with various stages scheduled around domestic club competitions.

Toulouse have won the competition a record four times, while Munster, Leinster, Leicester Tigers and London Wasps have won it twice each.

The 2010–11 tournament was won by Leinster, who beat Northampton Saints 33–22 in the biggest ever comeback as they recovered from a 22-6 half-time deficit, scoring 27 points in 26 second-half minutes. Jonathan Sexton won the man-of-the-match award, having scored 28 of Leinster's points total, which included two tries, three conversions, and four penalties.