Donal Lenihan: Champions Cup now a shadow of its former self 

There was a time when qualifying for Champions Cup rugby was seen as a badge of honour, an achievement in itself. The tournament now appears to have become an inconvenience for too many clubs.

Munster's Alex Kendellen wins a line-out at The Rec. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

It says everything about where European rugby sits right now that last weekend’s opening round of action snuck up on an unsuspecting rugby public almost unnoticed.

Suffice to say it’s the Champions Cup but not as we once knew and loved it. You can’t even call it European any more given the addition of the South African sides a few years ago.