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The European Rugby Cup, known as the Heineken Cup as it is sponsored
by the Dutch beer brewing company Heineken, is hotly contested by leading
European clubs, as well as regional and provincial teams from the six IRB
(International Rugby Board) countries in Europe: England, France, Ireland,
Italy, Scotland and Wales. This creme de la European creme competition is
organised by the European Rugby Cup Board.
One of the key reasons the Cup was created was to increase cross-border rugby
competition and also to try and lure players away from the financial and
professional temptations of international rugby league.
The first Heineken Cup competition kicked off in 1995. Toulouse won the first
final against Cardiff (21 - 18). If you're a better man, or woman, take note
that France has won this prestigious event no less than three times. However,
the English have still taken the coveted trophy home 5 times.
In 1998 English clubs withdrew from the competition as they opposed the way
it was run but they couldn't stay away for long. Back on the field in 1999, with
Munster and Northampton in the finals, English team Northampton whipped the
trophy from under the nose of the previous year's winner, Ulster.
But the most exciting Heineken Cup match was in 2004 - Toulouse, the trophy
holder versus the London Wasps. With only seconds to go and the score at 20 ALL,
the Wasps took the lead scoring a match winning try and conversion.
The most recent match, played at Cardiff, May 2008saw Munster grab a 16 - 13
victory from Toulouse. The match was cheered by an exuberant 74,500-strong
crowd.
The Heineken Cup is known as the H-Cup in France due to legislation which
restricts advertising for alcohol products. Correction, which restricts blatant
advertising of alcohol products. The country has no problem with its national
team competing in the alcoholic leagues and tacitly appreciates the revenue
generated by Heineken's sponsorship.
Sponsorship is big money in sport both for those involved in sporting events
and the multi-national conglomerates who have the budgets to support sport to
such an extent that it becomes profitable for them to sow millions in order to
reap billions.
Sky Sports in 2003 outbid BBC Sport to cover the Heineken Cup with an offer
of £20 million over 3 years. Sky Sports, incidentally, also has exclusive rights
to air the 2008 Rugby World Cup live.
Check back here for all the latest Heineken Cup betting news and information.
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