Donal Lenihan: The once-electric Champions Cup has reached a crossroads

Once the flagship event for rugby followers in this country, the Champions Cup appears to be fading in the consciousness of a growing number of competing clubs

The Munster huddle before the Champions Cup clash against Castres at Thomond Park at the weekend. While Munster still hold the tournament so dear, Donal Lenihan fears it ‘appears to be fading in the consciousness of a growing number of competing clubs’, citing the number of understrength teams played in recent rounds. Picture: Inpho/Morgan Treacy

A bit like the hospitality industry in this country at the moment, the Heineken Champions Cup is suffering death by a thousand cuts.

In times past, our pre-Christmas break was so often taken up by great trips to the south of France in Rounds 3 or 4 of European action. The picturesque Place Saint-Georges in the centre of Toulouse or Clermont’s Place de Jaude were always buzzing and brimful of festive cheer, the match itself in those brilliantly raucous rugby arenas at the Stade Ernest-Wallon and Stade Marcel-Michelin providing an 80-minute adrenaline rush.