European Rugby Champions Cup

{{short description|Annual rugby union tournament}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox rugby league football competition | name = European Rugby Champions Cup | current_season = 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup | logo = InvestecChampionsCupLogo.svg | pixels = 200px | alt = Investec Champions Cup Logo | sport = Rugby union | inaugural = 1995–96 as Heineken Cup 2014–15 as Champions Cup | ceotag = Chairman | ceo = Dominic McKay | teams = 24 | countrytag = Nations | country = {{ENG}} {{FRA}} {{Flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} Ireland {{ITA}} {{SCO}} {{WAL}} {{RSA}} (2022–23 season onwards) ''{{ROU}} (1995–96 only)'' | champion = {{Flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles (2nd title) | season = 2025–26 | most_champs = {{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse | count = 6 | website = {{URL|https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup|epcrugby.com/champions-cup}} | related_comps = European Rugby Challenge Cup (2nd tier) | related_comps2 = European Rugby Continental Shield }}

The '''European Rugby Champions Cup''' (known as the '''Investec Champions Cup''' for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a predominantly European league. Clubs qualify for the Champions Cup via their final positions in their respective national/regional leagues (English Premiership, French Top 14, and United Rugby Championship) or via winning the second-tier Challenge Cup; those that do not qualify are instead eligible to compete in the second-tier Challenge Cup.

Between 1995 and 2014, the equivalent competition was known as the '''Heineken Cup''' and was run by European Rugby Cup. Following disagreements between its shareholders over the structure and governance of the competition, it was taken over by EPCR and its name was changed to the European Rugby Champions Cup, without title sponsorship. Heineken returned as sponsor for the 2018–19 season, resulting in the competition being known as the Heineken Champions Cup. Although they are technically two separate competitions, run by different organisations, the European Rugby Cup and the European Rugby Champions Cup are recognised as one title chain of elite club championships in Europe, with teams that have won multiple titles ranked, for example, by the aggregate of their wins in both versions.

French clubs have the highest number of victories (14 wins), followed by England (10 wins) and Ireland (7 wins). England has the largest number of winning teams, with six clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by thirteen different clubs, eight of which have won it more than once, and five successfully defended their title including a unique three-in-a-row made by Toulon between 2012–13 and 2014–15. Toulouse is the most successful club in the tournament's history, having won it 6 times, including the first season of the tournament in the 1995–96 season, and appearing in eight finals. Leinster have also appeared in nine finals, winning four of them; both clubs have reached twice as many finals as any other club. Bordeaux are the current European champions, having beaten Leinster 41-19 in the 2026 final in Bilbao, Spain. Toulouse have completed "the Double" (Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup-National Championship) 3 times (1995–96, 2020–21 and 2023–24), a record in Europe.

==History== ===Heineken Cup=== ====1995–1999==== thumb|left|150px|The Heineken Cup logo used until 2013 The Heineken Cup was launched in the summer of 1995 on the initiative of the then Five Nations Committee to provide a new level of professional cross border competition.<ref name="historymain">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/37_74.php |title=European Rugby Cup : History |publisher=ERC |access-date=21 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208134810/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/37_74.php  |archive-date=8 February 2007}}</ref> Twelve sides representing Ireland, Wales, Italy, Romania and France competed in four pools of three with the group winners going directly into the semi-finals.<ref name="historyone">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/79_119.php |title=European Rugby Cup : Heineken Cup History 1995/96 |publisher=ERC |access-date=21 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315181143/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/79_119.php  |archive-date=15 March 2007}}</ref> English and Scottish teams did not take part in the inaugural competition.<ref name="hcup">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/mar/30/rugbyunion.gdnsport3 |title=Big boys plan for more lucrative Heineken Cup |first=Paul |last=Rees |date=30 March 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 March 2007 |location=London }}</ref> From an inauspicious beginning in Romania, where Toulouse defeated Farul Constanţa 54–10 in front of a small crowd, the competition gathered momentum and crowds grew. Toulouse went on to become the first European cup winners, eventually beating Cardiff in extra time in front of a crowd of 21,800 at Cardiff Arms Park.<ref name="historyone"/>

Clubs from England and Scotland joined the competition in 1996–97.<ref name="historyarticle">{{cite web|url=http://www.nobok.co.uk/page/RTD/0,,10301~786296,00.html |title=A history of the Heineken Cup |publisher=Nobok |access-date=1 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055702/http://www.nobok.co.uk/page/RTD/0%2C%2C10301~786296%2C00.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref> European rugby was further expanded with the advent of the European Challenge Cup for teams that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup. The Heineken Cup now had 20 teams divided into four pools of five.<ref name="historytwo">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/80_118.php |title=European Rugby Cup : Heineken Cup History 1996/97 |publisher=ERC |access-date=21 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118002356/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/80_118.php  |archive-date=18 January 2007}}</ref> Only Leicester and Brive reached the knock-out stages with 100 per cent records and ultimately made it to the final, Cardiff and Toulouse falling in the semi-finals. After 46 matches, Brive beat Leicester 28–9 in front of a crowd of 41,664 at Cardiff Arms Park, the match watched by an estimated television audience of 35 million in 86 countries.<ref name="historytwo"/>

The season 1997–98 saw the introduction of a home and away format in the pool games.<ref name="historythree">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/81_117.php |title=European Rugby Cup : Heineken Cup History 1997/98 |publisher=ERC |access-date=21 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208190603/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/81_117.php  |archive-date=8 February 2007}}</ref> The five pools of four teams, which guaranteed each team a minimum of six games, and the three quarter-final play-off matches all added up to a 70-match tournament. Brive reached the final again but were beaten late in the game by Bath with a penalty kick. Ironically, English clubs had decided to withdraw from the competition in a dispute over the way it was run.<ref name="hcup"/>

Without English clubs, the 1998–99 tournament revolved around France, Italy and the Celtic nations. Sixteen teams took part in four pools of four. French clubs filled the top positions in three of the groups and for the fourth consecutive year a French club, in the shape of Colomiers from the Toulouse suburbs, reached the final. Despite this it was to be Ulster's year as they beat Toulouse (twice) and reigning French champions Stade Français on their way to the final at Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Ulster then carried home the trophy after a 21–6 win over Colomiers in front of a capacity 49,000 crowd.<ref name="historythree"/>

====1999–2004==== English clubs returned in 1999–00. The pool stages were spread over three months to allow the competition to develop alongside the nations' own domestic competitions, and the knockout stages were scheduled to take the tournament into the early spring. For the first time clubs from four nations – England, Ireland, France and Wales – made it through to the semi-finals. Munster's defeat of Toulouse in Bordeaux ended France's record of having contested every final and Northampton Saints' victory over Llanelli made them the third English club to make it to the final. The competition was decided with a final between Munster and Northampton, with Northampton coming out on top by a single point to claim their first major honour.<ref name="historyarticle"/>

England supplied two of the 2000–01 semi-finalists – Leicester Tigers and Gloucester – with Munster and French champions Stade Français also reaching the last four. Both semi-finals were close, Munster going down by a point 16–15 to Stade Français in Lille and the Tigers beating Gloucester 19–15 at Vicarage Road, Watford. The final, at Parc des Princes, Paris, attracted a crowd of 44,000 and the result was in the balance right up until the final whistle, but Leicester walked off 34–30 winners.

Munster reached the 2001–02 final with quarter-final and semi-final victories on French soil against Stade Français and Castres. Leicester pipped Llanelli in the last four, after the Scarlets had halted Leicester's 11-match Heineken Cup winning streak in the pool stages. A record crowd saw Leicester become the first side to successfully defend their title.<ref name="historymain"/>

From 2002, the European Challenge Cup winner now automatically qualified for the Heineken Cup. Toulouse's victory over French rivals Perpignan in 2003 meant that they joined Leicester as the only teams to win the title twice.<ref name="historymain"/> Toulouse saw a 19-point half-time lead whittled away as the Catalans staged a dramatic comeback in a match in which the strong wind and showers played a major role, but Toulouse survived to win.

In 2003–04 the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) voted to create regions to play in the Celtic League and represent Wales in European competition. Henceforth, Wales entered regional sides rather than the club sides that had previously competed. English side London Wasps had earned their first final appearance by beating Munster 37–32 in a Dublin semi-final while Toulouse triumphed 19–11 in an all-French contest with Biarritz in a packed Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux. The 2004 final saw Wasps defeat defending champions Toulouse 27–20 at Twickenham to win the Heineken Cup for the first time. The match was widely hailed as one of the best finals. With extra time looming at 20–20, a late opportunist try by scrum half Rob Howley settled the contest.

====2005–2014==== The tenth Heineken Cup final saw the inaugural champions Toulouse battle with rising stars Stade Français when Murrayfield was the first Scottish venue to host the final.<ref name="toulouseparis">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/european/4559935.stm |title=Stade Francais 12–18 Toulouse |date=22 May 2005 |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 March 2007 }}</ref> Fabien Galthié's Paris side led until two minutes from the end of normal time before Frédéric Michalak levelled the contest for Toulouse with his first penalty strike. He repeated this in the initial stages of extra time and then sealed his side's success with a superb opportunist drop-goal. Toulouse became the first team to win three Heineken Cup titles.<ref name="toulouseparis"/>

In 2006, Munster defeated Biarritz in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, 23–19.<ref name="munster">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/european/4998452.stm |title=Munster 23–19 Biarritz |date=20 May 2006 |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 March 2007 }}</ref> It was third time lucky for the Irish provincial side, who had previously been denied the ultimate prize twice by Northampton and Leicester in finals, in addition to a series of tight semi-final losses. Munster's history of heartbreaking near misses, large away followings and their enduring close connection to the tournament provided much of the romantic narrative of the early years of the competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Callaghan |first=Joe |date=2022-05-06 |title=Rage, romance and rise of the Red Army: Munster-Toulouse in the early days |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40866125.html |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Wasps HEC Final 2007.JPG|thumb|300px|London Wasps celebrate after winning the 2006–07 Heineken Cup.]] The 2006–07 Heineken Cup would be distributed to over 100 countries following Pitch International's securing of the rights.<ref name="tv">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/82_116.php |title=2006–07 Heineken Cup delivered to over 100 countries |date=31 October 2006 |publisher=Sport Business |access-date=21 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209000811/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/82_116.php  |archive-date=9 February 2007}}</ref> That season was the first time in the history of the competition that two teams went unbeaten in pool play, with both Llanelli Scarlets and Biarritz doing so. Biarritz went into their final match at Northampton Saints with a chance to become the first team ever to score bonus-point wins in all their pool matches, but were only able to score two of the four tries needed. Leicester defeated Llanelli Scarlets to move into the final at Twickenham, with the possibility of winning a Treble of championships on the cards, having already won the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the English Premiership. However, Wasps won the final 25 points to 9 in front of a tournament record 81,076 fans.<ref name="wasps">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_6932.php |title=Waspss crowned club champions in front of world record crowd |date=20 May 2007 |publisher=ERC |access-date=15 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708034901/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_6932.php  |archive-date=8 July 2007}}</ref>

During competition there was uncertainty over the future of the tournament after the 2006–07 season as French clubs had announced that they would not take part because of fixture congestion following the Rugby World Cup and an ongoing dispute between English clubs and the RFU.<ref name="fut">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6269979.stm |title=French clubs to quit Heineken Cup |date=17 January 2007 |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 January 2007 }}</ref><ref name="futtwo">{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0117/heinekencup.html |title=French blame RFU for Heineken Cup boycott |date=17 January 2007 |publisher=RTÉ Sport |access-date=17 January 2007 }}</ref> It was speculated that league two teams might compete the next season, the RFU saying "If this situation is not resolved, the RFU owes it to the sport to keep this competition going...We have spoken to our FDR clubs, and if they want to compete we will support them.".<ref name="eng">{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21523602-2722,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527101407/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21523602-2722,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 May 2007 |title=Low division likely to fill Europe spots |date=9 April 2007 |publisher=Australian |first=Stephen |last=Jones |access-date=9 April 2007 }}</ref> A subsequent meeting led to the announcement that the tournament would be played in 2007–08, with clubs from all the six nations. On 20 May it was announced that both French and English top-tier teams would be competing<ref name="Competing">{{cite web|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_7033.php |title=ERC Press Statement |publisher=ERC |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184959/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_7033.php  |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

In the 2008 final, Munster won the cup for their second time ever by beating Toulouse at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Leinster won the title in 2009 in their first ever final after beating Munster in the semi-final in front of a then world record Rugby Union club match attendance in Croke Park. They beat the Leicester Tigers in the final at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. They also beat Harlequins 6–5 in the quarter-finals at Twickenham Stoop, in the famous Bloodgate scandal.

In the 2010 final, Toulouse defeated Biarritz Olympique in the Stade de France to claim their fourth title, a Heineken Cup record.

The 16th Heineken Cup tournament in 2011 resulted in an Irish province lifting the title for the fourth time in six years as Leinster recorded their second triumph in the competition. They defeated former multiple Heineken Cup winners Leicester and Toulouse in the quarter- and semi-finals. At the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, in front of 72,000 spectators,<ref name="Leinster turn the tide">{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0521/1224297501776.html |title=Leinster turn the tide |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=22 May 2011 |first=Johnny |last=Watterson}}</ref> Leinster fought back from a 22–6 half-time deficit in the final against Northampton Saints, scoring 27 unanswered points in 26 second-half minutes, winning 33–22 in one of the tournament's greatest comebacks. Johnny Sexton won the man-of-the-match award, having scored 28 of Leinster's points total, which included two tries, three conversions, and four penalties.

Leinster successfully defended their crown in 2012 at Twickenham, eclipsing fellow Irish province and former champions Ulster 42–14 to establish the highest Heineken Cup final winning margin. The performance broke a number of Heineken Cup Final records.<ref name="Leinster enter record books">{{cite news|url=http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/18304.php |title=Leinster enter record books |publisher=ERC |access-date=20 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916214234/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/18304.php |archive-date=16 September 2012 }}</ref> Leinster became only the second team to win back-to-back titles, and the only team ever to win three championships in four years. In addition, the game had the highest attendance at a final (81,774), the highest number of tries (5) and points (42) scored by one team and the highest points difference (28).

The final edition of the tournament as constituted as the Heineken Cup was won for a second time by Toulon at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May 2014.

===Champions Cup===

====2014–18==== The tournament began on 17 October 2014, with Harlequins playing Castres Olympique in the first ever Champions Cup game. Toulon retained their title, beating Clermont 24–18 in a repeat of the 2013 Heineken Cup Final, thereby becoming the first club to win three European titles in a row.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32546158|title=European Rugby Champions Cup final: Toulon secure hat-trick|first1=James|last1=St|first2=ley BBC|last2=Sport|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Following the November 2015 Paris attacks, all Round 1 games due to take place in France that weekend were called off, along with the Round 2 fixture between Stade Français and Munster.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34850615|title=European Champions Cup: Postponed ties to be rescheduled|work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34855680|title=European Rugby Champions Cup: Stade Francais-Munster game off|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Rescheduling of some matches was difficult, partly caused by fixture congestion due to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/toby-flood-learned-la-marseillaise-6836900|title=Toby Flood learns La Marseillaise in wake of Paris attacks for Toulouse clash|first=Alex|last=Spink|website=Daily Mirror |date=15 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joe.co.uk/sport/toulon-plan-for-postponed-bath-tie-will-damage-england-and-frances-6-nations-hope/26529|title=Proposed date for postponed European Cup tie would hurt England's Six Nations hopes - JOE.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/games-must-go-ahead-to-respect-paris-victims-34206790.html|title=Games must go ahead to respect Paris victims - Independent.ie|date=17 November 2015 }}</ref>

Saracens won their first title defeating Racing 92 in Lyon 21–9 in 2016 final and followed it up with their second in 2017, beating Clermont 28–17 in Edinburgh.

In 2017–18 season, Leinster overcame the "pool of death" consisting of Glasgow Warriors (who finished the 2017–18 season top of the Pro14), Montpellier (who finished the 2017–18 season top of the TOP 14) and Exeter (who finished the 2017–18 season top of the English Premiership), beating all three teams both home and away. Leinster went on to face the back to back Champions Saracens, dispatching a defeat at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, to set up a semi-final against reigning Pro12 champions Scarlets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/leinster-not-looking-to-repeat-history-against-scarlets-1.3462434|title=Leinster not looking to repeat history against Scarlets|first=John|last=O'Sullivan|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref> Leinster defeated Scarlets to face Racing 92 in Champions Cup Final in Bilbao. Leinster defeated Racing 92 by a scoreline of 15–12, becoming only the second team in history to earn four European titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/|title=Home|website=Guinness PRO14|access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref> Leinster also won the Pro14 title to become the first Pro14 side to win the domestic-European 'Double'.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/leinster-secure-historic-double-to-cap-greatest-ever-season-1.3510079|title=Leinster secure historic double to cap greatest ever season|first=Gerry Thornley at the Aviva|last=Stadium|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref>

===Heineken Champions Cup===

====2018–2020==== Saracens won the 2018–19 competition, defeating defending champions Leinster 20–10 in the final.<ref>[https://www.onrugby.it/2019/05/11/champions-cup-i-saracens-sono-i-migliori-deuropa-e-sono-ancora-campioni/ Page at Onrugby.it]</ref> Saracens were in breach of the Premiership salary cap during this edition and the previous year, in which they qualified for the 2018–19 cup.<ref name="ruck190511">{{cite web|url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/breaking-saracens-docked-points-and-fined-for-breaching-salary-cap-regulations/|title=BREAKING {{!}} Saracens docked points and fined for breaching salary cap regulations|date=5 November 2019|website=Ruck|access-date=5 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="huge20191106">{{cite web|url=https://www.hugerugby.news/champions-cup/saracens-now-on-thin-ice-with-epcr/|title=Saracens Now on Thin Ice with EPCR|last=Freeman|first=Joshua|website=Hugerugby.com|date=6 November 2019|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref> However, the EPCR have confirmed that Premiership ruling will not affect the results of the Heineken Champions Cup for 2018–19 or previous years, stating: "The Saracens decision is based on Gallagher Premiership Rugby regulations and does not affect the club's European record or current status in the Heineken Champions Cup."<ref name="pundit191105">{{cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/rugby/kennedymarisa760/epcr-premiership-saracens-european/|title=EPCR: Premiership Ruling Will Not Affect Saracens European Standing|last=Kennedy|first=Marisa|publisher=Pundit Arena|date=5 November 2019|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref> There were no Saracens representatives at the launch of the 2019–20 competition, held in Cardiff on 6 November 2019. EPCR released a statement saying they were "disappointed to learn of Saracens' decision to make their club representatives unavailable for today's official 2019–20 season launch".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/saracens-rugby-salary-cap-news-champions-cup-launch-epcr-action-fine-points-deduction-premiership-a9187271.html|title=Saracens: EPCR consider action as defending champions fail to send representatives to Champions Cup launch|last=Latham-Coyle|first=Harry|work=The Independent|date=6 November 2019|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref>

====2020–2023==== Because of the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020–21 competition took on a revised format based on a hybrid of the round-robin and Swiss systems.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=2 September 2020|title=New EPCR tournament formats agreed for 2020/21 season|url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2020/09/02/new-epcr-tournament-formats-agreed-for-2020-21-season/|access-date=2 September 2020|website=European Professional Club Rugby}}</ref> A similar, but revised 24 team format took place for 2021–22 and 2022-23.<ref>{{cite web|date=16 June 2021|title=Key 2021/22 EPCR dates announced|url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2021/06/16/key-2021-22-epcr-dates-announced/|access-date=16 June 2021|website=European Professional Club Rugby}}</ref>

=== Investec Champions Cup === On 31 August 2023, Investec, a bank and wealth management company with operations in South Africa and Europe, and the European Professional Club Rugby announced Investec would take over as title sponsor of the competition.<ref>[https://www.investec.com/en_gb/welcome-to-investec/press/investec-announced-as-new-champions-cup-title-partner.html Investec announced as new Champions Cup title partner in landmark agreement] ''Investec.com.'' Retrieved 31 August 2023.</ref> The tournament moved away from the COVID-19 influenced hybrid system back toward a more straightforward, if still modified, round-robin pool format, while retaining the balance of four pool matches and four knock-out weekends.

==Format==

===Qualification=== Typically, a total of 24 teams qualify for the competition, the same number as used to qualify for the Heineken Cup. At least 23 of the 24 teams qualify automatically based on position in their respective leagues. The winner of the Challenge Cup will earn a place regardless of league position.

Team distribution is typically: *England: 8 teams, based on position in Premiership Rugby allowing for the Challenge Cup entry route; *France: 8 teams, based on position in the Top 14, again allowing for the Challenge Cup entry route; *South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales: 8 teams, based on performance in the United Rugby Championship (previously the Pro14). **From 2014 to 2017, the best placed team from each country in the Pro14 qualified for the competition, along with the best three remaining teams regardless of nationality; **In 2017, it was announced that this format would change.<ref name="qualy changes">{{cite web|url=http://epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/news/35907.php#.WSFa_4WcHE0|title=EPCR announces key changes to Champions Cup qualification|publisher=epcrugby.com}}</ref> Starting with qualification for the 2018–19 competition, the Pro14 places would be assigned regardless of nationality, rather than the requirement that at least one team qualify from each participating nation.

====20th team qualification (2014–2019) ==== Until 2018–19, the final team each season qualified through a play-off competition between the best placed unqualified teams. *For the 2014–15 season, this was a two legged play-off between the seventh-placed teams in the Top 14 and the English Premiership. The team with the highest aggregate score over the two legs advancing to the Champions Cup. *For the 2015–16 season, there was a three-team play-off; the seventh-placed team in the English Premiership, or the winners of the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup if members of the English Premiership and not already qualified, would play the eighth-placed (or highest non-qualified) team from the Pro14, with the winner playing the seventh-placed team in the Top 14. *To facilitate Rugby World Cup 2015, there were no play-offs for the 2016–17 Champions Cup with the 20th place going to the winner of the 2016 Challenge Cup if not already qualified. *For 2017–18, the play-off format included four clubs with a second Pro14 club competing. If not already qualified, the winner of the Challenge Cup will take the place in the play-offs of the seventh-ranked club in the English Premiership and Top 14, and will also take the place of the second Pro14 club if applicable.<ref name="qualification">{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/qualification/index.php|title=European Rugby Champions Cup (EPCR)|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504010043/http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/qualification/index.php|archive-date=4 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> *In May 2017, it was announced that, starting with qualification for the 2018–19 Champions Cup, the play-off will be scrapped in favour of awarding the final berth using the following criteria:<ref name="qualy changes" /><ref name="qualification" /> #Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified. #European Rugby Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified. #Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified. #Challenge Cup semi-finalist, if one has not already qualified (or the winner of a play-off between the semi-finalists, if both have not already qualified). #Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner.

===Competition===

====Group stage==== For the pool stage teams are placed into pools via a draw. The teams are ranked based on domestic league performance the previous season, and arranged into four tiers. Teams are then drawn from the tiers into pools at random, with the restriction that no team will be drawn in the same pool as another team from the same league and tier.<ref name="pool draw exp">{{cite web |url=http://archive.ercrugby.com/news/28791.php |title=Watch the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Pool Draws live |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031111243/http://archive.ercrugby.com/news/28791.php |archive-date=31 October 2014 |website=ERCRugby.com |access-date=8 June 2014 }}</ref> The nature of the draw means that sides will have a relatively even spread of matches across venues, leagues and tiers.

Teams will play the two other teams in their pool from each different league once, at home or away, and match points will be awarded depending on the result of each game, with teams receiving four points for a win, and two for a draw. Teams can also earn bonus points for scoring four or more tries and/or for losing a match by seven points or fewer.<ref name="rules">{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/rules.php|title=European Rugby Champions Cup (EPCR)|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420202015/http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/rules.php|archive-date=20 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the completion of the pool stage, 16 teams qualify for the knock-out stage of the Champions Cup with a further 4 of the remaining 8 dropping into the Challenge Cup. The final four teams are eliminated<ref name="RFU release">{{cite press release|url=http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/march/news-articles/260314_europe_statement |title=Future of European Rugby resolved |publisher=Rugby Football Union |date=10 April 2014 |access-date=10 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525041159/http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/march/news-articles/260314_europe_statement |archive-date=25 May 2014 }}</ref>

====Knock-out stage==== The sixteen remaining teams are seeded from 1–16 based on performance in their respective pool.  The top two teams in each of the four pools gain home advantage in the round of 16, with the teams finishing third and fourth playing away The quarter-finals are unbracketed, and follow the standard 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 format, as found in the Heineken Cup.<ref name="rules"/>{{clarify |reason=The 2014 cited source for this appears out of date, and it makes little sense to speak of 1 v 8, etc, when 16 qualified for the Knockout stage from 2 groups, with our 2022 article currently giving the 4 Quarter-finals descriptions like B1 v A4, and B3 v B7, etc; in particular I tried and failed to find out from our Wikipedia articles on what basis QF Home Advantage was decided) |date=April 2022}}

The winners of the quarter-finals will contest the two semi-finals, Up to and including the 2014–15 season, matches and home country advantage were determined by a draw by EPCR.

In 2015–16, EPCR decided to put a new procedure in place. In lieu of the draw that used to determine the semi-final pairing, EPCR announced that the fixed semi-final bracket would be set in advance, and that the home team would be designated based on ''"performances by clubs during the pool stages as well as the achievement of a winning a quarter-final match away from home"''. Semi-final matches must have been played at a neutral ground in the designated home team's country.

Since 2018–19, the higher-seeded team will have home country/venue advantage for each semi-final regardless of whether they won their quarter-final at home or on the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2019/01/20/heineken-champions-cup-semi-finals/|title=Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals|publisher=EPCR|date=19 January 2019|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref> The EPCR may now also use its discretion to allow semi-finals to be played at a qualified club's home venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2019/02/13/heineken-champions-cup-semi-final-venues/|title=Heineken Champions Cup semi-final venues|publisher=EPCR|date=13 February 2019|access-date=13 February 2019}}</ref>

{{Col-begin}} {{Col-3}} {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |- !width=50|Winner QF 1 !width=50|Winner QF 2 !width=70|Semi-final (home v away) |- |1 |4 |1 v 4 |- |1 |5 |1 v 5 |- |8 |4 |4 v 8 |- |8 |5 |5 v 8 |} {{Col-3}} {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |- !width=50|Winner QF 3 !width=50|Winner QF 4 !width=70|Semi-final (home v away) |- |3 |2 |2 v 3 |- |3 |7 |3 v 7 |- |6 |2 |2 v 6 |- |6 |7 |6 v 7 |} {{Col-3}} {{Col-end}}

The winners of the semi-finals will contest the final, which will be held in May each season.<ref name="EPCR statement">{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/eng/news/28828.php|title=New Tournament formats agreed|website=epcrugby.com |publisher=European Professional Club Rugby|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924042252/http://www.epcrugby.com/news/28828.php |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref>

====2020–2023==== Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe the 2020–21 competition took on a revised format. In this edition, the teams were split up into two separate pools of 12, in which they would play four games against opponents from their pool, before the top four teams from each of the two pools advanced to the knockout stage, made up of two-legged quarterfinals, and a single legged semi-finals and final. However, due to the increasing spread of the virus, only two rounds were played before the competition was suspended, and instead the top eight teams from each of the two pools advanced to the knockout stage, with all matches being single-legged affairs.

A similar format remained for 2021–22, with the top eight teams from each of the two pools advancing to the knockout stage, which featured a two-legged Round of 16 before a single-legged quarterfinals, semi-finals and final. The 2022-23 campaign will retain the same pool format, but, like 2020–21, all knockout stage games will be single-legged.

====2023–present==== A further change took place from 2023-4, with four pools of six teams. The winners of the three leagues (the URC, the Premiership, and the Top 14), along with the winner of the previous season's Champions Cup, are drawn into separate pools. Where the Champions Cup winner also wins its own league, the Champions Cup runner-up takes the fourth place in the draw. The other teams are drawn so that each six-team pool contains two teams from each of the three leagues.

Within the four pools, each of the teams plays once against the other four teams that are not from its own league, with two games at home and two away. The top four teams from each pool qualify for the round of 16, with the top two teams enjoying home advantage. The fifth-placed team in each pool drops into the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup. The bottom-placed team is eliminated.

The four knock-out rounds continue to be single-legged. In the round of 16 and quarter-finals, the team with a higher ranking from the pool stages has home stadium advantage. The semi-finals are held in a venue selected by EPCR in the country of the higher-ranked team. The final is in a predetermined major stadium.

==Finals== {{See also|List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals}}Twickenham has been the most common venue for the final, holding the event on six occasions. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has held five finals, and its predecessor stadium on the same site a further two, but the latter stadium was completely demolished to build the Millennium, and the two are treated as two separate venues. The site, however, holds the record for most finals, seven. The final has been held twice in a nation that is not part of the competition; San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao in Spain held both the 2018 final, and the 2026 final. As of 2024 the final has never been held in South Africa or Italy. Nigel Owens from Wales holds the record for most appearances by a referee in the final, with seven. {|class="wikitable" |+Key |- |style="background:#fbceb1;width:40px;text-align:center"|{{dagger}} |Match was won during extra time |}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- !colspan="7"|Heineken Cup era |- !scope="col"|Season !scope="col"|Winners !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Runners-up !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|{{abbr|Att|Attendance}} !scope="col"|Referee |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|1995–96 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse |style="background:#fbceb1; text-align:center"|21–18{{dagger}} |{{flagicon|WAL}} Cardiff |{{flagicon|WAL}} National Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|21,800 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} David McHugh |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|1996–97 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Brive |align=center|28–9 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers |{{flagicon|WAL}} National Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|41,664 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Derek Bevan |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|1997–98 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Bath |align=center|19–18 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Brive |{{flagicon|FRA}} Parc Lescure, Bordeaux |align=center|36,500 |{{flagicon|SCO}} Jim Fleming |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|1998–99 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster |align=center|21–6 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Colomiers |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Lansdowne Road, Dublin |align=center|49,000 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Clayton Thomas |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|1999–00 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Northampton Saints |align=center|9–8 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster |{{flagicon|ENG}} Twickenham Stadium, London |align=center|68,441 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Joël Dumé |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2000–01 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers |align=center|34–30 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français |{{flagicon|FRA}} Parc des Princes, Paris |align=center|44,000 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} David McHugh |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2001–02 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers (2) |align=center|15–9 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster |{{flagicon|WAL}} Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|74,600 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Joël Jutge |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2002–03 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (2) |align=center|22–17 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Perpignan |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Lansdowne Road, Dublin |align=center|28,600 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Tony Spreadbury{{efn|Chris White started the 2001 Heineken Cup final as referee, before withdrawing in the 12th minute due to injury, to be replaced by reserve official Tony Spreadbury .}} |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2003–04 |{{flagicon|ENG}} London Wasps |align=center|27–20 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse |{{flagicon|ENG}} Twickenham Stadium, London |align=center|73,057 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Alain Rolland |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2004–05 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (3) |style="background:#fbceb1; text-align:center"|18–12{{dagger}} |{{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français |{{flagicon|SCO}} Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh |align=center|51,326 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris White |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2005–06 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster |align=center|23–19 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Biarritz |{{flagicon|WAL}} Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|74,534 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris White |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2006–07 |{{flagicon|ENG}} London Wasps (2) |align=center|25–9 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers |{{flagicon|ENG}} Twickenham Stadium, London |align=center|81,076 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Alan Lewis |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2007–08 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster (2) |align=center|16–13 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse |{{flagicon|WAL}} Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|74,500 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2008–09 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster |align=center|19–16 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers |{{flagicon|SCO}} Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh |align=center|66,523 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2009–10 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (4) |align=center|21–19 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Biarritz |{{flagicon|FRA}} Stade de France, Saint-Denis |align=center|78,962 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Wayne Barnes |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2010–11 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (2) |align=center|33–22 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Northampton Saints |{{flagicon|WAL}} Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|72,456 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Romain Poite |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2011–12 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (3) |align=center|42–14 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster |{{flagicon|ENG}} Twickenham Stadium, London |align=center|81,774 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2012–13 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon |align=center|16–15 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Clermont |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Aviva Stadium, Dublin |align=center|50,198 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Alain Rolland |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2013–14 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon (2) |align=center|23–6 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens |{{flagicon|WAL}} Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|67,586 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Alain Rolland |- !colspan="7"|Champions Cup era |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2014–15 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon (3) |align=center|24–18 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Clermont |{{flagicon|ENG}} Twickenham Stadium, London |align=center|56,622 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2015–16 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens |align=center|21–9 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Racing 92 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon |align=center|58,017 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2016–17 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens (2) |align=center|28–17 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Clermont |{{flagicon|SCO}} Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh |align=center|55,272 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2017–18 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (4) |align=center|15–12 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Racing 92 |{{flagicon|ESP}} San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao |align=center|52,282 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Wayne Barnes |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2018–19 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens (3) |align=center|20–10 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster |{{flagicon|ENG}} St James' Park, Newcastle |align=center|51,930 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Jérôme Garcès |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2019–20 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Exeter Chiefs |align=center|31–27 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Racing 92 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol |align=center|0{{efn|The 2020 final was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.<ref name="behind closed doors">{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1012/1171080-challenge-cup-final-will-have-fans-in-attendance/ |title=Challenge Cup final will have fans in attendance |website=RTE |date=12 October 2020 |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>}} |{{flagicon|WAL}} Nigel Owens |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2020–21 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (5) |align=center|22–17 |{{flagicon|FRA}} La Rochelle |{{flagicon|ENG}} Twickenham Stadium, London |align=center|10,000{{efn|Capacity limited to 10,000 due to national restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.}} |{{flagicon|ENG}} Luke Pearce |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2021–22 |{{flagicon|FRA}} La Rochelle |align=center|24–21 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster |{{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |align=center|59,682 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Wayne Barnes |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2022–23 |{{flagicon|FRA}} La Rochelle (2) |align=center|27–26 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Aviva Stadium, Dublin |align=center|51,711 |{{flagicon|RSA}} Jaco Peyper |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2023–24 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (6) |style="background:#fbceb1; text-align:center"|31–22{{dagger}} |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster |{{flagicon|ENG}} Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London |align=center|61,531 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Matthew Carley |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2024–25 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles |align=center|28–20 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Northampton Saints |{{flagicon|Wales}} Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |align=center|70,225 |{{flagicon|GEO}} Nika Amashukeli |- !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2025–26 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles (2) |align=center|41–19 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster |{{flagicon|ESP}} San Mames Stadium, Bilbao |align=center|52,327 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Karl Dickson |}

===Finals by club=== [[File:Stade Ernest Wallon 2021 cropped.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A view of Toulouse' stadium Stade Ernest-Wallon from the North Stand in 2021|Stade Ernest-Wallon, stadium of the most successful club in the tournament's history]] {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- !scope=col|Club !width=70|Champions !scope=col|Runners-up !scope=col|Years as champions !scope=col|Years as runners-up |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse {{rating|6|6|size=15px}} |align=center|6 |align=center|2 |1995–96, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2020–21, 2023–24 |2003–04, 2007–08 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster {{rating|4|4|size=15px}} |align=center|4 |align=center|5 |2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2017–18 |2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2025–26 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens {{rating|3|3|size=15px}} |align=center|3 |align=center|1 |2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19 |2013–14 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon {{rating|3|3|size=15px}} |align=center|3 |align=center|0 |2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 |align=center|— |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers {{rating|2|2|size=10px}} |align=center|2 |align=center|3 |2000–01, 2001–02 |1996–97, 2006–07, 2008–09 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster {{rating|2|2|size=10px}} |align=center|2 |align=center|2 |2005–06, 2007–08 |1999–00, 2001–02 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} La Rochelle {{rating|2|2|size=10px}} |align=center|2 |align=center|1 |2021–22, 2022–23 |2020–21 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|ENG}} Wasps {{rating|2|2|size=10px}} |align=center|2 |align=center|0 |2003–04, 2006–07 |align=center|— |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles {{rating|2|1|size=10px}} |align=center|2 |align=center|0 |2024–25, 2025–26 |align=center|— |- !scope=row|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} Northampton Saints {{rating|1|1|size=10px}}}} |align=center|1 |align=center|2 |1999–00 |2010–11, 2024–25 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Brive {{rating|1|1|size=10px}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |1996–97 |1997–98 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster {{rating|1|1|size=10px}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |1998–99 |2011–12 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|ENG}} Bath {{rating|1|1|size=10px}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |1997–98 |align=center|— |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|ENG}} Exeter Chiefs {{rating|1|1|size=10px}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |2019–20 |align=center|— |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Clermont |align=center|0 |align=center|3 |align=center|— |2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Racing 92 |align=center|0 |align=center|3 |align=center|— |2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français |align=center|0 |align=center|2 |align=center|— |2000–01, 2004–05 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Biarritz |align=center|0 |align=center|2 |align=center|— |2005–06, 2009–10 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|WAL}} Cardiff |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |align=center|— |1995–96 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Colomiers |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |align=center|— |1998–99 |- !scope=row|{{flagicon|FRA}} Perpignan |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |align=center|— |2002–03 |}

===Wins by nation=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- !scope="col"|Nation !scope="col"|Winners !scope="col"|Runners-up |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|FRA}} {{runion|FRA}} |align=center|14 |align=center|16 |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|ENG|rugby union}} {{runion|ENG}} |align=center|10 |align=center|6 |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} {{runion|IRE}} |align=center|7 |align=center|8 |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|WAL}} {{runion|WAL}} |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|SCO}} {{runion|SCO}} |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|ITA}} {{runion|ITA}} |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|RSA}} {{runion|RSA}} |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |}

==Records and statistics==

===Player records=== Note that in the case of career statistics, only those clubs for which each player appeared in European Cup fixtures (i.e. Heineken Cup or Champions Cup) are listed.

====Career records==== Up to date as of 27 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Milestones |url=https://historical-stats.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/history/milestones/ |website=EPCR |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>

====={{anchor|TopTry}} Tries===== {{See also-text|EPCR Elite Awards: Players with 25 or more European Cup tries}} [[File:Chris Ashton 2015-10-09.jpg|185px|thumb|right|alt=Chris Ashton wearing a Saracens F.C. Saracens blue jersey in 2015|Chris Ashton playing for Saracens in 2015]] {| class=wikitable width="70%" style="text-align:center" |- !scope=col|Rank !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club(s) !Games ! scope="col" |Tries !Try Ratio |- |align=center|1 | align=left | {{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Ashton |Northampton Saints, Saracens, Toulon, Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers |70 | align="center" |'''41''' |{{#expr:41/70 round 2}} |- |align=center|2 | align=left | {{flagicon|FRA}} Vincent Clerc |Toulouse |83 | align="center" |'''36''' |{{#expr:36/83 round 2}} |- |style="text-align:center"|3 | align=left | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Simon Zebo |Munster, Racing |68 | style="text-align:center" |'''35''' |{{#expr:35/68 round 2}} |- |style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"|4 | align=left | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Brian O'Driscoll}} |Leinster |87 | align="center" rowspan="2" |'''33''' |{{#expr:33/88 round 2}} |- | align=left | {{flagicon|ARG}} Juan Imhoff |Racing 92 |63 |{{#expr:33/63 round 2}} |- | align="center" |6 | align=left | '''{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} James Lowe''' |Leinster |39 | align="center" |'''31''' |{{#expr:31/39 round 2}} |- | align="center" rowspan=2|7 | align=left | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Tommy Bowe |Ulster, Ospreys |66 | align="center" rowspan=2|'''29''' |{{#expr:29/66 round 2}} |- | align=left | {{flagicon|WAL}} Dafydd James |Pontypridd, Llanelli, Bridgend, Celtic Warriors, Harlequins, Scarlets |60 |{{#expr:29/60 round 2}} |- | rowspan="4" align="center"|9 | align=left | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Andrew Trimble |Ulster |71 | rowspan="4" align="center" |'''27''' |{{#expr:27/71 round 2}} |- | align=left | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Shane Horgan |Leinster |87 |{{#expr:27/87 round 2}} |- | align=left | '''{{flagicon|FRA}} Antoine Dupont''' |Castres, Toulouse |51 |{{#expr:27/51 round 2}} |- | align=left | '''{{flagicon|FRA}} Damian Penaud''' |Clermont, Bordeaux |33 |{{#expr:27/33 round 2}} |- |align="center" |13 | align=left | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Gordon D'Arcy |Leinster |104 |align="center" |'''26''' |{{#expr:26/104 round 2}} |- | rowspan="2" align="center" |14 | align=left | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Geordan Murphy |Leicester Tigers |74 | rowspan="2" align="center" |'''25''' |{{#expr:25/74 round 2}} |- | align=left | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|FIJ}} Naipolioni Nalaga}} |Clermont |37 |{{#expr:25/37 round 2}} |- |} * Players in '''BOLD''' still playing for an EPCR qualified team.

====={{anchor|TopPoints}} Points===== {{See also-text|EPCR Elite Awards: Players with 500 or more European Cup points}} [[File:ROGMunsterQuins(cropped).jpg|185px|thumb|right|alt=Ronan O'Gara standing in the field with Munster, near a Heineken-sponsored post pad, in 2013|Ronan O'Gara (background) playing for Munster in 2013]] {| class=wikitable width="60%" |- !scope=col|Rank !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club(s) !scope=col|Points |- |align=center|1 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |Munster |align=center|'''1,365''' |- |align=center|2 |{{flagicon|ENG}} '''Owen Farrell''' |Saracens |align=center|'''874''' |- |align=center|3 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Stephen Jones |Llanelli, Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets |align=center|'''869''' |- |align=center|4 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Johnny Sexton |Leinster, Racing Métro 92 |align=center|'''784''' |- |align=center|5 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Dimitri Yachvili |Biarritz |align=center|'''661''' |- |align=center|6 | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|ITA}} Diego Domínguez}} |Milan, Stade Français |align=center|'''645''' |- |align=center|7 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Dan Biggar |Ospreys, Northampton Saints, Toulon |align=center|'''634''' |- |align=center|8 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Morgan Parra |Bourgoin, Clermont Auvergne |align=center|'''569''' |- |align=center|9 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} David Humphreys |Ulster |align=center|'''564''' |- |align=center|10 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Leigh Halfpenny |Cardiff Blues, Toulon, Scarlets, Harlequins |align=center|'''523''' |} * Players in '''BOLD''' still playing for an EPCR qualified team.

====={{anchor|MostGoals}} Goals===== ''The number of goals includes both penalties and conversions.'' [[File:RonanOGaraKicking(cropped).jpg|185px|thumb|right|alt=Ronan O'Gara making a goal kick for Munster in 2006|Ronan O'Gara playing for Munster in 2006]] {| class=wikitable width="60%" |- !scope=col|Rank !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club(s) !scope=col|Goals |- |align=center|1 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |Munster |align=center|'''488''' |- |align=center|2 |{{flagicon|ENG}} '''Owen Farrell''' |Saracens, Racing Métro 92 |align=center|'''352''' |- |align=center|3 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Stephen Jones |Llanelli, Clermont Auvergne, Scarlets |align=center|'''313''' |- |align=center|4 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Johnny Sexton |Leinster, Racing Métro 92 |align=center|'''294''' |- |align=center|5 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Dimitri Yachvili |Biarritz |align=center|'''235''' |- |align=center|6 | {{nowrap|{{flagicon|ITA}} Diego Domínguez}} |Milan, Stade Français |align=center|'''231''' |- |align=center|7 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Dan Biggar |Ospreys, Northampton Saints, Toulon |align=center|'''223''' |- |align=center|8 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Morgan Parra |Clermont, Bourgoin |align=center|'''220''' |- |align=center rowspan=2|9 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Leigh Halfpenny |Cardiff Blues, Toulon, Scarlets, Harlequins |align=center|'''176''' |- |{{flagicon|WAL}} Neil Jenkins |Pontypridd, Cardiff RFC, Celtic Warriors |align=center|'''176''' |} * Players in '''BOLD''' still playing for an EPCR qualified team.

====={{anchor|MostAppear}} Appearances===== {{See also-text|EPCR Elite Awards: Players with 50 or more European Cup appearances}} [[File:Cian Healy Barbarians 2025.png|200px|thumb|right|alt=Cian Healy, seated, at a press conference before a Barbarian F.C. match|Cian Healy with Barbarian F.C., before his last professional rugby match, in 2025]] {| class=wikitable width="60%" |- !scope=col|Rank !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club(s) !scope=col|Games |- | style="text-align:center"|1 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Cian Healy |Leinster |align=center|'''114''' |- | style="text-align:center"|2 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |Munster |align=center|'''110''' |- |align=center|3 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Gordon D'Arcy |Leinster |align=center|'''104''' |- |rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} John Hayes |Munster |align=center|'''101''' |- |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Peter Stringer |Munster, Saracens, Bath, Sale |align=center|'''101''' |- |align=center|6 |{{nowrap|{{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Wigglesworth}} |Sale Sharks, Saracens |align=center|'''99''' |- |align=center|7 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Donncha O'Callaghan |Munster |align=center|'''97''' |- |align=center|8 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Clément Poitrenaud |Toulouse |align=center|'''96''' |- |align=center|9 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leo Cullen |Leinster, Leicester Tigers |align=center|'''92''' |- |align=center|10 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Benjamin Kayser |Stade Francais, Leicester Tigers, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne |align=center|'''90''' |- |} * Players in '''BOLD''' still playing for an EPCR qualified team.

====={{anchor|MostTitles}} Titles===== Up to date as of 24 May 2026<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2022/09/01/heineken-champions-cup-final-records-individual |title=Heineken Champions Cup final records: Individual |date=1 September 2022 |website=EPCR |access-date=23 May 2023}}</ref> {| class=wikitable width="60%" |- !scope=col|Rank !scope=col|Titles !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club(s) !scope=col|Years Won |- |align=center|1 |align=center|'''6''' | {{flagicon|FRA}} Frédéric Michalak | {{nowrap|Toulouse (3)}} Toulon (3) |2003 2005 2010 2013 2014* 2015* |- | rowspan="7" align="center" |2 | rowspan="7" align="center" |'''4''' | {{flagicon|FRA}} Cédric Heymans |Brive (1) {{nowrap|Toulouse (3)}} |1997 2003 2005 2010 |- | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Cian Healy | Leinster (4) |2009 2011 2012 2018 |- | {{flagicon|FIJ}} Isa Nacewa | Leinster (4) |2009 2011 2012 2018 |- | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Johnny Sexton | Leinster (4) |2009 2011 2012 2018 |- | {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Devin Toner | Leinster (4) |2009 2011 2012 2018 |- | {{flagicon|AUS}} '''Will Skelton''' | Saracens (2) La Rochelle (2) |2017* 2019 2022 2023 |- | {{flagicon|FRA}} '''Arthur Retière''' | Stade Rochelais (1) Stade Toulousain (1) Union Bordeaux Bègles (2) |2022 2024* 2025 2026 |- !colspan=5|*Titles inclusive of any season in which a player played during the tournament even if they did not appear in the final. |} * Players in '''BOLD''' still playing for an EPCR qualified team.

==== Single season records ==== Single season records up to date as of 20 December 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Tournament Statistics |url=https://historical-stats.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/statistics/tournament-statistics/ |website=historical-stats.epcrugby.com |access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref>

===== {{anchor|TopTry}} Tries ===== Damian Penaud has the record for the highest number of tries scored in a single season, and the best try-scoring ratio among players with at least eight tries. {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" |- ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" |Player ! scope="col" |Club ! scope="col" |Season ! scope="col" |Tries !Games !Ratio |- | align="center" |1 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Damian Penaud |Bordeaux Bègles |2024–25<ref>{{Cite web |title=La fiche rugby de : Damian PENAUD |url=https://www.allrugby.com/joueurs/damian-penaud-3565.html |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.allrugby.com |language=fr}}</ref> ! align="center" |'''14''' |align="center" |8 |align="center" |1.75 |- | align="center" |2 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Ashton |Saracens |2013–14<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_try_scorers.php?preset877=2013 |title=Heineken Cup: Try Scorers 2013-14 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> ! align="center" |11 |align="center"|9 |align="center"|1.22 |- | rowspan="3" align="center" |3 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Sébastien Carrat |Brive |1996–97<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_try_scorers.php?preset877=1996 |title=Heineken Cup: Try Scorers 1996-97 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> ! rowspan="3" align="center" |10 | rowspan="2" align="center"|7 | rowspan="2" align="center"|1.43 |- |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} James Lowe |Leinster |2021–22<ref>{{Cite web |title=La fiche rugby de : James LOWE |url=https://www.allrugby.com/joueurs/james-lowe-5894.html |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.allrugby.com |language=fr}}</ref> |- |{{flagicon|FRA}} Louis Bielle-Biarrey |Bordeaux Bègles |2025–26 | align="center" |8 | align="center" |1.25 |- | align="center" rowspan="2" |6 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Matthew Robinson |Swansea |2000–01<ref name="2000tries">{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_try_scorers.php?preset877=2000 |title=Heineken Cup: Try Scorers 2000-01 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> ! align="center" rowspan="2" |9 |align="center"|7 |align="center"|1.29 |- |{{flagicon|ENG}} Tommy Freeman |Northampton Saints |2024–25<ref>{{cite web |title=Damian Penaud crowned European Player of the Year after staggering try record |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/damian-penaud-crowned-european-player-of-the-year-after-staggering-try-record |website=Planet Rugby |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|8 |align="center"|1.13 |- | align="center" rowspan="6" |8 |{{flagicon|FIJ}} Timoci Matanavou |Toulouse |2011–12<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_try_scorers.php?preset877=2011 |title=Heineken Cup: Try Scorers 2011-12 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> ! rowspan="6" |8 | rowspan="2" align="center"|6 | rowspan="2" align="center"|1.33 |- |{{flagicon|FRA}} Louis Bielle-Biarrey |Bordeaux Bègles |2024-25 |- |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Shane Horgan |Leinster |2004–05<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_try_scorers.php?preset877=2004 |title=Heineken Cup: Try Scorers 2004-05 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center"|7 | rowspan="2" align="center"|1.14 |- |{{flagicon|FRA}} Gaël Dréan |Toulon |2025-26 |- |{{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Simmonds |Exeter Chiefs |2019–20 |align="center"|8 |align="center"|1 |- |{{flagicon|FIJ}} Napolioni Nalaga |Clermont |2012–13<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_try_scorers.php?preset877=2012 |title=Heineken Cup: Try Scorers 2012-13 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |align="center"|9 |align="center"|0.89 |}

====={{anchor|TopPoints}} Points===== [[File:Diego Dominguez Roma 2021.jpg|185px|thumb|right|alt=Diego Domínguez (rugby union) Diego Domínguez wearing plain clothes at an Italy national rugby union team Italy game in 2021|Diego Domínguez at an Italy game in 2021]] {| class=wikitable |- !scope=col|Rank !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club !scope=col|Season !scope=col|Points |- |align=center|1 | {{flagicon|ARG}} Diego Domínguez |Stade Français |2000–01<ref name=2000points>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=2000 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 2000-01 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |align=center|'''188''' |- |align=center|2 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Tim Stimpson |Leicester Tigers |2000–01<ref name=2000points/> |align=center|'''152''' |- |align=center|3 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Simon Mason |Ulster |1998–99<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=1998 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 1998-99 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |align=center|'''144''' |- |align=center|4 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Johnny Sexton |Leinster |2010–11<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=2010 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 2010-11 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |align=center|'''138''' |- |align=center|5 |{{flagicon|WAL}} Lee Jarvis |Cardiff |1997–98<ref name=1997points>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=1997 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 1997-98 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |align=center|'''134''' |- |align=center|6 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |Munster |1999–00<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=1999 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 1999-00 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |align=center|'''131''' |- |rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|7 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Jonathan Callard |Bath |1997–98<ref name=1997points/> |rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|'''129''' |- |{{flagicon|ARG}} Felipe Contepomi |Leinster |2005–06<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=2005 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 2005-06 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |- |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |Munster |2001–02<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ercrugby.com/statistics/player_v_player.php?preset866=2001 |title=Heineken Cup: Points Scorers 2001-02 |publisher=ERC |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> |- |align=center rowspan=2|10 |{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |Munster |2000–01<ref name=2000points/> |rowspan="2" align=center|'''127''' |- |{{flagicon|ENG}} Owen Farrell |Saracens |2015–16<ref>{{cite web |title=Owen Farrell – Saracens' points king |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/content/owen-farrell-saracens-points-king |website=EPCR |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref> |}

====European Player of the Year==== The European Player of the Year award was introduced by ERC in 2010. Ronan O'Gara received the inaugural award, being recognised as the best player over the first 15 years of ERC tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/erc/europeanplayeroftheyear/index.php|title=European Player of the Year|publisher=European Professional Club Rugby|access-date=13 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519102954/http://www.epcrugby.com/erc/europeanplayeroftheyear/index.php|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the creation of the European Rugby Champions Cup, the new organisers, EPCR, continued to award a Player of the Year accolade, with the first going to Clermont full-back Nick Abendanon. In the 2016/17 season it was announced that the award would change name to the Anthony Foley Memorial Award after the passing of Munster Head Coach. The first winner of this since the change in title was Saracens fly half Owen Farrell.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12572/10876645/owen-farrell-wins-anthony-foley-memorial-trophy |title=Owen Farrell wins Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy |work=Sky Sports |date=14 May 2017 |access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable |- !scope=col|Year !scope=col|Player !scope=col|Club !scope=col|Reference |- |2010 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster ||<ref>{{cite web |title=O'Gara claims European Rugby honour |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15296575/ogara-claims-european-rugby-honour |website=espnscrum |date=16 May 2010 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref> |- |2011 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Seán O'Brien|| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/25/sean-obrien-leinster-heineken-cup|work=The Guardian|date=25 May 2011|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Sean O'Brien of Leinster named European Player of the Year|author=Robert Kitson}}</ref> |- |2012 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Rob Kearney || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/18151759|work=BBC Sport|date=21 May 2012|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Ireland's Rob Kearney wins ERC player of the year title}}</ref> |- |2013 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Jonny Wilkinson || {{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22590414|date=19 May 2013|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Jonny Wilkinson named European Player of the Year|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> |- |2014 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Steffon Armitage|| {{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/27578299|work=BBC Sport|title=Steffon Armitage named ERC European Player of the Year|date=26 May 2014|access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> |- | 2015|| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nick Abendanon || {{flagicon|FRA}} Clermont || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/05/nick-abendanon-european-player-of-the-year-2015-clermont-auvergne|work=The Guardian|date=2 May 2015|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Clermont Auvergne's Nick Abendanon named European player of the year}}</ref> |- | 2016 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Maro Itoje || {{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12572/10282563/maro-itoje-named-european-player-of-the-year|work=Sky Sports|date=15 May 2016|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Maro Itoje named European Player of the Year|author=Andy Charles}}</ref> |- | 2017 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Owen Farrell || {{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens|| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39908192|work=BBC Sport|date=13 May 2017|access-date=2 March 2021|title=Owen Farrell: Saracens fly-half wins European player of the year award}}</ref> |- |2018 || {{flagicon|FIJ|rugby union}} Leone Nakarawa || {{flagicon|FRA}}Racing 92 || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.planetrugby.com/leone-nakarawa-named-european-player-of-the-year/|work=Planet Rugby|date=12 May 2018|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Leone Nakarawa named European Player of the Year}}</ref> |- |2019 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Alex Goode || {{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48241543|work=BBC Sport|date=19 May 2019|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Alex Goode named European Player of the Year after Saracens win Champions Cup}}</ref> |- | 2020 || {{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Simmonds || {{flagicon|ENG}} Exeter|| <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12332/12107094/sam-simmonds-exeter-no-8-named-european-player-of-the-year|work=Sky Sports|date=17 October 2020|access-date=2 March 2022|title=Sam Simmonds: Exeter No 8 named European Player of the Year}}</ref> |- | 2021 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Antoine Dupont || {{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/antoine-dupont-becomes-first-frenchman-to-win-epcr-european-player-of-the-year/|work=Rugby Pass|title=Antoine Dupont becomes first Frenchman to win EPCR European Player of the Year|date=21 May 2021|access-date=2 March 2022|author=Sam Smith}}</ref> |- | 2022 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Josh van der Flier || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/05/28/van-der-flier-crowned-epcr-european-player-of-the-year|work=Irish Rugby|title=Van Der Flier Crowned EPCR European Player Of The Year|date=28 May 2022|access-date=28 May 2022}}</ref> |- |2023 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Grégory Alldritt || {{flagicon|FRA}} La Rochelle || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2023/05/20/epoty-alldritt-eager-for-la-rochelle-return |title=EPOTY Alldritt eager for La Rochelle return |date=20 May 2023 |website=EPCR |access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref> |- |2024 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Antoine Dupont || {{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/content/antoine-dupont-investec-player-of-the-year-2024-epcr |title=Antoine Dupont named Investec Player of the Year 2024 |date=25 May 2024 |website=EPCR |access-date=25 May 2024}}</ref> |- |2025 || {{flagicon|FRA}} Damian Penaud || {{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles || <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup/content/damian-penaud-named-investec-player-of-the-year-2025 |title=Damian Penaud named Investec Player of the Year 2025 |date=24 May 2025 |website=EPCR |access-date=24 May 2025}}</ref> |- |2026 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Louis Bielle-Biarrey |{{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles | |}

===Title-winning coaches=== [[File:GuyNovesSTCAB2012(cropped).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Guy Novès before a Top 14 game in 2012|Guy Novès, the only coach to have won the tournament on four occasions]] [[File:Bernard Laporte - US Oyonnax vs. Rugby Club Toulonnais, 3rd October 2014.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Bernard Laporte after a Top 14 game at Oyonnax in 2014|Bernard Laporte, the only coach to have won the tournament three times in a row]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Wins !Coach !Club(s) |- |align="center"|'''4''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Guy Novès |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (1996, 2003, 2005, 2010) |- |rowspan=2 align="center"|'''3''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Bernard Laporte |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulon (2013, 2014, 2015) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Mark McCall |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens (2016, 2017, 2019) |- | rowspan="6" align="center" |'''2''' |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Richards |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Leicester Tigers (2001, 2002) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Declan Kidney |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster (2006, 2008) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|NZL}} Joe Schmidt |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (2011, 2012) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ronan O'Gara |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} La Rochelle (2022, 2023) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Ugo Mola |align="left"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Toulouse (2021, 2024) |- | align="left" |{{flagicon|FRA}} Yannick Bru | align="left" |{{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux Bègles (2025, 2026) |- | rowspan="9" align="center" |'''1''' | align="left" |{{flagicon|FRA}} Laurent Seigne | align="left" |{{flagicon|FRA}} Brive (1997) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Robinson |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Bath (1998) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Harry Williams |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster (1999) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} John Steele |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Northampton Saints (2000) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|NZL}} Warren Gatland |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} London Wasps (2004) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ian McGeechan |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} London Wasps (2007) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|AUS}} Michael Cheika |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (2009) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leo Cullen |align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (2018) |- |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Baxter |align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Exeter Chiefs (2020) |}

==Sponsorship and suppliers== ===Sponsors=== During the creation of the Champions Cup, former organisers ERC had been criticised for "failing to maximise the commercial potential" of the Heineken Cup. New organisers EPCR pledged to move from a single title sponsor format to a Champions League-style partner system, with 2–3 primary partners projected for the inaugural tournament and 5 being the ultimate target. However, only Heineken agreed to sign up for the 2014–15 season, at a much reduced price from that which they had been paying previously.<ref name="irishtimes.com"/><ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/>

====Principal partners==== *Heineken (1995–2014; 2018–) :: Heineken, who had sponsored the Heineken Cup since 1995, signed on as the first partner for the Champions Cup in 2014, and were credited as the ''Founding Partner of European Rugby''. They returned to the competition as title sponsors in 2018, resulting in it being renamed as the "Heineken Champions Cup".<ref>{{cite news |title=Heineken returns as Champions Cup title partner |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2018/06/04/heineken-champions-cup-title-partner/ |website=epcrugby.com |publisher=European Professional Club Rugby |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=4 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604133238/https://www.epcrugby.com/2018/06/04/heineken-champions-cup-title-partner/ |archive-date=4 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Due to French restrictions on alcohol advertising, it is known as the "H Cup" in France.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/05/rugby-union-alcohol-drugs-heineken-cup|title=Rugby's relationship with alcohol under the spotlight as Heineken Cup prepares to kick off|website=The Guardian |date=5 October 2009}}</ref> *Turkish Airlines (2015–2017) :: Announced as the second principal partner at the 2015–16 tournament launch, signing on for three seasons<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/news/31233.php#.VkC3KK7hCRt|title=European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR)}}</ref>

===Suppliers=== [[File:GilbertBallERCC2015.jpg|150px|thumb|right|alt=A Gilbert Rugby Gilbert white and blue colored rugby ball used in a European Rugby Champions Cup in 2015|Gilbert ball used in the 2015–16 season]] *Webb Ellis – Match balls and officials' kit (2003–2009) *Adidas – Match balls and officials' kit (2009–2014) *Canterbury of New Zealand – Match officials' kit (2014–2016) *Gilbert – Match balls (1998–2002; 2014–) and officials' kit (2016–2019) *Kappa – Match officials' kit (2019–) *Tissot – Official watch and timekeeper (2015–) **Following their appointment as an official supplier, Tissot began sponsoring the match officials' kit *DHL – Official logistics partner (2021–) **At all matches, the match ball is "delivered" on a DHL-branded plinth.

==Trophy== The European Rugby Champions Cup trophy was unveiled in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/243577.html|title=Euro cup has to wait for new sponsors|date=7 October 2014 |work=ESPN|access-date=10 October 2014}}</ref>

Crafted by Thomas Lyte,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportindustry.biz/news/european-rugby-cups-unveiled-ahead-kick|title=European Rugby Cups unveiled ahead of kick off|date=7 October 2014}}</ref> the trophy is made of mixed metals including sterling silver and 18ct gold plating. The cup is designed around the idea of the star representing European rugby, including the previous 19 seasons of European rugby, as the Heineken Cup.

The 13.5 kg, five-handled trophy, creates a star shape when viewed from the top, while when viewed from the side, the top of the trophy has a coronet effect, which designers said was to reflect the crowning of the Kings of Europe. The base of the trophy contains the crests of the 10 clubs that won the Heineken Cup, to further reinforce the link between the old and new European competitions<ref>{{cite web |date=4 October 2014 |title=Prestigious new European Professional Club Rugby trophies unveiled |url=https://thomaslyte.com/european-rugby-champions-cup-designers-makers/ |access-date=10 October 2014 |work=Premiershiprugby.com}}</ref>

==Media coverage== <div style=display:inline-table> {| class="wikitable" |+ European broadcasters |- !Territory !Rights holder |- |Austria |More Than Sports<ref name="EPCRTV23">{{cite web |url=https://epcrugby.tv/EPCR_Where_to_watch.pdf |title=Where to watch the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup: TV broadcast partners, live streams |publisher=EPCR |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> |- |Baltic states |Viaplay<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |France |{{flatlist}} *beIN Sports *France Télévisions<ref name="TV2023">{{cite news |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2023/04/09/heineken-champions-cup-semi-finals-dates-venues-kick-off-times-and-tv-coverage-announced |title=Heineken Champions Cup semi-finals – dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage announced |date=9 April 2023 |website=EPCR |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> {{endflatlist}} |- |Georgia |Rugby TV |- |Germany |More Than Sports<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Ireland |{{flatlist}} *Premier Sports *RTÉ<ref name="TV2023"/> {{endflatlist}} |- |Italy |{{flatlist}} *Sky Italia *Eleven Sports<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> {{endflatlist}} |- |Malta |GO<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Netherlands |Viaplay<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Nordic countries |Viaplay<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Poland |Polsat<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Portugal |SportTV<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Romania |Digi<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Spain |Movistar<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Switzerland |More Than Sports<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |United Kingdom |{{flatlist}} *Premier Sports *ITV<ref name="TV2023"/> *S4C (Welsh language)<ref name="SkyNZ">{{cite news |url=https://www.sportcal.com/media/sky-nz-in-multi-year-deal-with-epcr |title=Sky NZ and Viaplay in multi-year deals with EPCR |last=Cunningham |first=Euan |date=7 December 2022 |website=Sportcal |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> {{endflatlist}} |- |Other territories |{{URL|epcrugby.tv}}<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |} </div> <div style=display:inline-table> {| class="wikitable" |+ Worldwide broadcasters |- !Territory !Rights holder |- |Australia |beIN Sports<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Canada |FloSports<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Caribbean |SportsMax<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Latin America (including Brazil) |ESPN<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |New Zealand |Sky<ref name="SkyNZ"/> |- |Pacific Islands |Digicel<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Southeast Asia |Premier Sports<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |- |Sub-Saharan Africa (including South Africa) |SuperSport<ref name="TV2023"/> |- |United States |FloSports<ref name="TV2023"/> |- |Other territories |{{URL|epcrugby.tv}}<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> |} </div>

'''Radio partnerships:''' *BBC Radio (United Kingdom)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/partner/bbc-radio-5-live |title=BBC Radio 5 Live |website=EPCR |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> *RTÉ Radio (Ireland)<ref name="Radio17">{{cite news |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/2017/10/02/rte-sport-and-newstalk-retain-european-rugby-radio-rights-in-ireland |title=RTE Sport and Newstalk retain European rugby radio rights in Ireland |date=2 October 2017 |website=EPCR |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> *Off The Ball/Newstalk (Ireland)<ref name="Radio17"/>

For other territories without official broadcasters, Heineken Champions Cup games are available on EPCR's broadcast platform {{URL|epcrugby.tv}}.<ref name="EPCRTV23"/> Between seasons 2014–15 and 2017–18, EPCR was criticised for forcing British and Irish fans to subscribe to two pay-TV companies, both Sky Sports and BT Sport, if they wanted to follow their teams in the tournament.<ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/>

==Attendance== This lists the average attendances for each season's European Cup competition, as well as the total attendance and highest attendance for that season. The final is typically the most-attended match, as it is generally held in a larger stadium than any club's home venue.

The highest attended match of the 2002–03 competition was a quarter-final between Leinster and Biarritz before 46,000 fans at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

The 2009 final held at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh was only the third most-attended match that season. The most-attended match was a semi-final between Irish rivals Leinster and Munster played in Croke Park in Dublin. The attendance of 82,208 set what was then a world record for a club match in the sport's history, and remains the record attendance for any match in the competition's history.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/leinster-rugby/leinster-bring-all-the-emotion-the-intelligence-and-the-rugby/ |title=Leinster bring all the emotion, the intelligence and the rugby |newspaper=The Irish Times |first=Gerry |last=Thornley }}</ref> Second on that season's list was a pool match between Stade Français and Harlequins that drew 76,569 to Stade de France in Paris (a venue that Stade Français has used for select home matches since 2005). The second highest attendance in the history of the competition was also an Irish derby, but in this case held in Twickenham in London; the 2012 final between Leinster and Ulster.

While the 2010–11 tournament's highest attended match was unsurprisingly the final, the second-highest attended match was notable in that it was held in Spain. Perpignan hosted Toulon in a quarter-final before a sellout crowd of 55,000 at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain. On both occasions where the final has been held in Bilbao, Spain, that match has also been the highest attended of that year's competition.

{| class=wikitable |- !scope=col|Season !scope=col|Total !scope=col|Average !scope=col|Highest |- |1995–96 |align=right|97,535 |align=right|6,502 |align=right|21,800 |- |1996–97 |align=right|317,987 |align=right|6,765 |align=right|41,664 |- |1997–98 |align=right|462,958 |align=right|6,613 |align=right|36,500 |- |1998–99 |align=right|322,340 |align=right|5,860 |align=right|49,000 |- |1999–00 |align=right|626,065 |align=right|7,924 |align=right|68,441 |- |2000–01 |align=right|646,834 |align=right|8,187 |align=right|44,000 |- |2001–02 |align=right|656,382 |align=right|8,308 |align=right|74,600 |- |2002–03 |align=right|704,782 |align=right|8,921 |align=right|46,000 |- |2003–04 |align=right|817,833 |align=right|10,352 |align=right|73,057 |- |2004–05 |align=right|918,039 |align=right|11,620 |align=right|51,326 |- |2005–06 |align=right|964,863 |align=right|12,370 |align=right|74,534 |- |2006–07 |align=right|914,048 |align=right|11,570 |align=right|81,076 |- |2007–08 |align=right|942,373 |align=right|11,928 |align=right|74,417 |- |2008–09 |align=right|1,177,064 |align=right|14,900 |align=right|82,208 |- |2009–10 |align=right|1,080,598 |align=right|13,678 |align=right|78,962 |- |2010–11 |align=right|1,139,427 |align=right|14,423 |align=right|72,456 |- |2011–12 |align=right|1,172,127 |align=right|14,837 |align=right|81,774 |- |2012–13 |align=right|1,063,218 |align=right|13,458 |align=right|50,148 |- |2013–14 |align=right|1,127,926 |align=right|14,278 |align=right|67,578 |- |2014–15 |align=right|985,717 |align=right|14,712 |align=right|56,622 |- |2015–16 |align=right|955,647 |align=right|14,263 |align=right|58,017 |- |2016–17 |align=right|1,018,026 |align=right|15,194 |align=right|55,272 |- |2017–18 |align=right|1,005,537 |align=right|15,008 |align=right|52,282 |- ||2018–19 |align=right|1,020,286 |align=right|15,228 |align=right|51,930 |- |2019–20* |align=right|779,079 |align=right|12,985 |align=right|42,041 |- ||2020–21* |align=center| – |align=center| – |align=right|10,000 |- |2021–22* |align=right|843,371 |align=right|14,056 |align=right|59,682 |- |2022–23 |align=right|1,028,422 |align=right|16,324 |align=right|51,711 |- |2023–24 |align=right|1,160,390 |align=right|18,419 |align=right|82,300 |- |2024–25 |align=right|1,142,553 |align=right|18,428 |align=right|70,225 |- |2025–26 | align="right" |1,059,748 | align="right" |16,821 | align="right" |52,327 |- |colspan="6" style="text-align:left;font-size:90%"| *Denotes season in which COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance |} Reference:<ref>{{cite web |title=Attendances by Season |url=https://tournamentguides.epcrugby.com/statistics/attendances-by-season/ |website=EPCR |access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

==Controversies== ===Disagreements over structure & governance=== English and French rugby union clubs had long held concerns over the format and structure of the Heineken Cup organised by European Rugby Cup (ERC), predominantly in relation to the distribution of funds and an imbalance in the qualification process.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jan/10/rugbyunion.gdnsport3 |title=French clubs withdraw threat to down Heineken |date=10 January 2007}}</ref> Some proposals had been made that, in future, rather than Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy each sending their top-placed teams in the Pro14 to the Heineken Cup, the top teams from the league as a whole should be sent, regardless of nationality. This founding principle was eventually conceded however, when it was agreed that the top-placed teams from the four should participate in the new European competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/2707620/Scots-approach-Welsh-proposal-with-caution---Rugby-Union.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910190538/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/2707620/Scots-approach-Welsh-proposal-with-caution---Rugby-Union.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2008 |title=Scots approach Welsh proposal with caution |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=11 August 2008 |location=London |first=Alasdair |last=Reid}}</ref>

In June 2012, following that year's final, Premiership Rugby and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), on behalf of the English and French clubs respectively, gave ERC two years' notice of withdrawing from the Heineken Cup and also the second-tier Challenge Cup competitions from the start of the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/24038523 |title=Heineken Cup: English & French clubs to set up new competition |work=BBC Sport |access-date=1 October 2013 |date=10 September 2013}}</ref> Soon after, in September, Premiership Rugby announced a new four-year TV deal worth £152 million with BT Sport including rights for English clubs' European games - which had previously been the sole responsibility of ERC. ERC responded with claims that Premiership Rugby did not have the rights to a European tournament and announced a four-year deal with Sky Sports. The actions of Premiership Rugby were said to have "thrown northern hemisphere rugby into disarray".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/analysis-english-tv-deal-spell-2024128|title=Analysis: Does English TV deal spell end of Heineken Cup?|first=Simon|last=Thomas|date=14 September 2012}}</ref>

Subsequently, in September 2013, the English and French clubs announced their intention to organise their own tournament, to be named the Rugby Champions Cup, from 2014 to 2015 season onwards, and invited other European clubs, provinces, and regions to join them. The IRB (now World Rugby) stepped into the debate at the same time to announce its opposition to the creation of a breakaway tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1313184/anglo-french-breakaway-plan-rugby-heineken-cup-not-ideal-irb-chief-brett|title=Anglo-French breakaway plan from rugby Heineken Cup not ideal: IRB chief Brett Gosper|date=20 September 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Regional Rugby Wales, on behalf of the four Welsh regions, confirmed its full support for the proposed new Rugby Champions Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2013-14/rugby/story/203419.html|title=Welsh regions support Champions Cup|date=22 October 2013|work=ESPN Scrum|access-date=23 October 2013}}</ref> Negotiations for both a new Heineken Cup and Rugby Champions Cup were then ongoing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/24610729|title=Background to the European rugby dispute|date=22 October 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 October 2013}}</ref>

On 10 April 2014, following almost two years of negotiations, a statement was released under the aegis of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) announcing that the nine stakeholders to the new competition, the six unions, and three umbrella club organisations (Premiership Rugby, LNR, and Regional Rugby Wales), had signed Heads of Agreement for the formation of the European Rugby Champions Cup, the European Rugby Challenge Cup and a new, third tournament, initially called the Qualifying Competition and now known as the European Rugby Continental Shield.<ref>[http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/15722/european-rugby-statement/ "European Rugby Statement"] (10 April 2014). ''The Rugby Paper''. Retrieved 9 June 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.epcrugby.com/news/35360.php |title=New identity for the Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition |publisher=European Professional Club Rugby |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> On the same day, BT and Sky announced an agreement that divided coverage of the new European competitions. Both will split the pool matches, quarter-finals, and semi-finals equally, and both will broadcast the final. BT will get first choice of English Premiership club matches in the Champions Cup, with Sky receiving the same privilege for the Challenge Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2013-14/rugby/story/221423.html |title=BT and Sky sign joint agreement over European rugby |publisher=ESPN Scrum |date=10 April 2014 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref>

Premiership Rugby and LNR were described as having employed "bully-boy tactics" by ''The Irish Times''.<ref name="irishtimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-cup/european-cup-s-unique-sense-of-occasion-wins-out-despite-final-flaws-1.2197413|title=European Cup's unique sense of occasion wins out despite final flaws|newspaper=The Irish Times }}</ref>

===Organisation=== Shortly after the establishment of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) to administer the new competition from a new base in Neuchatel, Switzerland, the running of the inaugural 2014–15 tournament was subcontracted to the organisation it had been meant to replace, Dublin-based European Rugby Cup (ERC). This was despite the latter having been described by chairman of Premiership Rugby, Quentin Smith, as "no longer fit for purpose". This was described as "something of an about-turn" by ''The Daily Telegraph''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/european-rugby/10955459/European-Rugby-Cup-officials-seconded-to-run-the-inaugural-European-Rugby-Champions-Cup.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/european-rugby/10955459/European-Rugby-Cup-officials-seconded-to-run-the-inaugural-European-Rugby-Champions-Cup.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=European Rugby Cup officials seconded to run the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup|date=9 July 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

EPCR were still looking to hire a permanent chairman and director-general more than a year after their establishment.<ref name="walesonline.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/rugbys-new-european-champions-cup-9136523|title=Has rugby's new Europe actually worked?|first=Simon|last=Thomas|date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

===2015 final=== The inaugural Champions Cup final was brought forward by three weeks due to a French desire not to interrupt their domestic playoffs. This was said to have "devalued" and "diminished the status of the occasion as the pinnacle of European club rugby".<ref name="irishtimes.com"/><ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/>

While the 2015 Heineken Cup final had been due to take place at the San Siro in Milan, the first European final to take place in Italy, the new organisers decided to move it to Twickenham Stadium in London in order to "guarantee the best possible financial return to clubs".<ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/> However, with less than two weeks to go before the final took place, it was reported that fewer than half of the stadium's 82,000 seats had been sold, with just 8,000 French supporters travelling to London to watch Toulon face Clermont.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/apr/20/european-champions-cup-empty-twickenham-final|title=European Champions Cup organisers fear half-empty Twickenham final|first=Robert|last=Kitson|date=20 April 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> The organisers subsequently made "free" tickets available on Ticketmaster (with only a £2 booking fee applicable), before admitting to this being a mistake – the offer supposed to have been linked to a purchase of a Premiership final ticket. This was described as an "embarrassing fiasco" by the ''Western Mail'' in Wales.<ref name="walesonline.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/free-champions-cup-final-tickets/22709|title=Free Champions Cup final ticket offer a mistake, claim organisers - SportsJOE.ie}}</ref> 56,622 fans subsequently attended the game. EPCR were said to have "failed on many levels" by ''The Irish Times'', with the attendance figure for the final "a fitting postscript to the hastily-convened decider to what was, after all the brinkmanship, a hastily-convened tournament".<ref name="irishtimes.com"/>

==See also== {{Portal|Sports}} * List of European Rugby Champions Cup finals * European Rugby Challenge Cup (Tier 2) * Rugby Europe Super Cup (Tier 3) * Premiership (England) * United Rugby Championship (Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales) * Top 14 (France) * Club World Cup

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.epcrugby.com/champions-cup}}

Category:European Rugby Champions Cup Category:Rugby union competitions in Europe for clubs and provinces Category:1995 establishments in Europe Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1995 Category:Multi-national rugby union leagues