Vintage year for sparkling competition

LIKE a good French wine, the Heineken Cup, has improved with age.

Last weekend all four quarter-finals were played in front of capacity crowds with a fervour that is unrivalled, even in the international game.

What makes this competition special is the parochial nature of the participants. Whether you hail from Llanelli or Munster, Biarritz or Toulouse, this tournament has captured the imagination of the community.