Rage, romance and rise of the Red Army: Munster-Toulouse in the early days

Saturday's Dublin showdown will be the eighth European meeting of Munster and Toulouse but it was in the early years that things first took off

On the march: On a day when the Red Army was truly born, Anthony Foley of Munster is tackled by Franck Belot, left, and Chriastan Labit of Toulouse during the 2000 Heineken Cup Semi-Final at the Stade du Parc Lescure in Bordeaux. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

“Munster and Toulouse both have great rugby traditions, and both have used those traditions to build cycles of success.” Fabien Pelous was speaking to the assembled media in Cardiff on May 23, 2008, the day before the titans of continental club rugby would finally meet in a Heineken Cup final. The giant French lock was, of course, correct.

That decider at the Millennium Stadium would bring Munster a second European crown, moving them into the rarified territory only then occupied by Toulouse and Leicester Tigers as multiple winners of the big one.