A very special step into the unknown

While the meetings to try to save the Heineken Cup will continue in Dublin this afternoon, it will probably go unnoticed that 18 years ago, on January 7, 1996, the first final was staged at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.

Toulouse eventually ran out winners after extra-time over Cardiff in a game played on a Sunday and broadcast by ITV. At least there is some synergy between then and now – the first year was played without any English clubs! What today’s warring factions might consider when they try to tip-toe their way through the ruins of European club rugby is that the inaugural competition was set up in a matter of months and helped to form the most successful club rugby tournament on the planet.

If you ask some of those players who featured in that final how it felt, they will all tell you it was like stepping into the unknown. Yet, to a man, they all knew they were involved in something special.

“It was a great occasion and a pleasure and honour to be involved in the first year of something that has grown to become such a spectacular success,” said Jonathan Davies, who played for Cardiff in their 21-18 defeat in front of 21,800 fans.

“I’ve played in many cup finals in both codes – WRU Challenge Cup, Rugby League Challenge Cup, World Club Championship and Premiership finals – and this was right up there. It felt like we were in on the ground floor of something special. In many ways it reminded me of playing in the first World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. We felt like pioneers. That Toulouse side were very strong and had taken the tournament seriously from the start. The final was the day the rugby world really woke up to talent like Thomas Castaignède, who scored the first try in a Heineken Cup final and also dropped a goal.

“I was disappointed not to start, but came on at half-time to replace Mark Ring. We had our chances to win and it was a shame we couldn’t quite manage to do so in front of our own fans.”

All of Cardiff’s points came from the boot of Welsh international outside half Adrian Davies, while Toulouse scored two tries. It was 12-6 to the French side at half-time, 15-15 after 80 minutes and it took a last gasp penalty from outside half Christophe Deylaud to clinch the first of Toulouse’s four European crowns.

It is incredible to think as Toulouse prepare for their 136th Heineken Cup tie this weekend that Guy Noves was in charge of the side 18 years ago, as he is today. Has there ever been a more successful coach in club rugby in the northern hemisphere? The question is, will he be able to lead his team into a seventh final in what could be the final season of the tournament? A return to Cardiff in May, albeit to the rather grander Millennium Stadium these days, would complete the circle for him and the French giants.

Davies, however, is hoping that common sense will prevail in the deliberations between the Unions and clubs and that the tournament he helped to kick-start in 1995 will be able to continue.

“Everybody wants what is best for the game and the Heineken Cup has been good for rugby in the northern hemisphere,” said the now BBC Wales TV pundit. “Nobody knows which way this is all going to end up and, at the moment, it looks as though the Heineken Cup is on its last legs. It is sad it has come to this because the row is not so much about rugby, but broadband and TV revenues. The Heineken Cup helped Welsh, Irish and Scottish rugby raise standards by exposing their teams to top class French and English opposition. We would never fear going out to play against English, Irish or Scottish sides, but we simply weren’t used to winning against the French. We gradually got there and the exposure Welsh clubs had to French sides through the Heineken Cup eventually enabled the national side win in Paris.”

CARDIFF: M Rayer; S Ford (N Walker 97), M Hall, M Ring (Jonathan Davies 41), S Hill; A Davies, A Moore; A Lewis, J Humphreys, L Mustoe, J Wakeford, D Jones, E Lewis, O Williams, H Taylor (captain)

Scorer: pens: A Davies 6

TOULOUSE: S Ougier; E Ntamack (captain), P Carbonneau (E Artiguste 93), T Castaignede, D Berty (U Mola 69); C Deylaud, J Cazalbou; C Califano, P Soula, C Portolan, H Miorin, F Belot, D Lacroix (R Castel 58), H Manent, S Dispagne.

Scorers: Tries: T Castaignede, J Cazalbou; Con: C Deylaud; Pens: C Deylaud 2; DG: T Castaignede.

Referee: Dave McHugh (Ireland).