88-616: 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
176-516: A Black Economic Empowerment transaction empowerment partners acquired a 21.5% stake in the South Africa-listed Investec. In 2005, Investec sold its UK private client stockbroking operation, Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite Limited to Rensburg plc. Investec retained a 47.7% interest in the combined entity, Rensburg Sheppards plc. In 2007, Investec plc acquired Kensington Group plc and Experien (Pty) Ltd. Investec plc acquired
264-671: A banking licence in 1980 and was first listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa in 1986, after merging with Metboard, a trust company. In 1988, Investec Bank Limited was restructured into Investec Group Limited ("IGL"), giving Investec Management and staff control of the company. In 1990, Investec acquired property management company I. Kuper & Company (Pty) Limited, Corporate Merchant Bank Limited (formerly Hill Samuel Merchant Bank Limited) and trade finance company Reichmans Limited. Investec entered
352-534: A change of ownership and set out new plans for the future of the club, including a proposal to create a new club headquarters at Farleigh House and a commitment to build a new 20,000 all seater stadium. Mike Ford became the club's head coach in May 2013. Ford guided Bath to the 2014–15 Premiership Final, where they lost to Saracens . Ford was awarded the Aviva Premiership Director of Rugby of
440-432: A crowd of 41,664 at Cardiff Arms Park , the match watched by an estimated television audience of 35 million in 86 countries. The season 1997–98 saw the introduction of a home and away format in the pool games. 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
528-476: A flagship project started by the Kutlwanong Centre for Math, Science and Technology. The project aims at improving the mathematics and science skills of students from historically disadvantaged regions across South Africa. The project has been a huge success year on year, with most of the students obtaining distinctions in mathematics and science, and their other subjects. In 2014 the project was awarded
616-409: 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
704-404: A number of Heineken Cup Final records. 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
792-554: 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
880-452: A record in Europe. 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. 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. English and Scottish teams did not take part in
968-634: A semi-final against reigning Pro12 champions Scarlets. 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. Leinster also won the Pro14 title to become the first Pro14 side to win the domestic-European 'Double'. Saracens won the 2018–19 competition, defeating defending champions Leinster 20–10 in
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#17327724494071056-472: 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. 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
1144-595: A strategic review, the Boards of Investec plc and Investec Limited announced that Investec Asset Management would become a separately listed entity. In March 2020, the Asset Management business was demerged and listed as Ninety One plc . The new name is in recognition of the brand's heritage – it was in 1991 that the investment firm was started in South Africa. In April 2023, UK wealth manager Rathbones agreed to buy Investec's wealth and investment businesses in
1232-638: 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. Toulouse are the current European champions, having beaten the second-most successful club, Leinster 22–31 in the 2024 final in London , England. Toulouse completed "the Double" (Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup-National Championship) 3 times (1995-1996, 2020-2021 and 2023-2024),
1320-827: Is an Anglo-South African international banking and wealth management group. It provides a range of financial products and services to a client base in Europe, Southern Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Investec is dual-listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange . It is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. Investec was founded as a small leasing and financing company in 1974 in Johannesburg , South Africa , by Larry Nestadt, Errol Grolman and Ian Kantor. It has expanded through growth and acquisitions. It secured
1408-534: The 2020–21 competition took on a revised format based on a hybrid of the round-robin and Swiss systems . A similar, but revised 24 team format took place for 2021–22 and 2022-23 . 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. The tournament moved away from
1496-464: 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
1584-484: The Mail & Guardian Investing In The Future STEM award. As of March 2019 Investec also helps to fund, along with several other large corporate sponsors, a private software engineering college called Wethinkcode, with campuses in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, with the objective of confronting the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa by providing free tuition for eligible students. Other sponsorships included
1672-802: The Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute in London's Hyde Park. Bath Rugby Bath Rugby are a professional rugby union club in Bath, Somerset , England . They play in Premiership Rugby , England's top division of rugby. Founded in 1865 as Bath Football Club, since 1894 the club has played at the Recreation Ground in the city centre. Bath Rugby is one of the most successful clubs in England having won 18 major trophies It
1760-772: 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 . Rescheduling of some matches was difficult, partly caused by fixture congestion due to the 2015 Rugby World Cup . 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
1848-574: The Rugby World Cup and an ongoing dispute between English clubs and the RFU. 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.". A subsequent meeting led to the announcement that the tournament would be played in 2007–08, with clubs from all
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#17327724494071936-667: The Super Rugby competition since 2011, when it acquired naming rights in New Zealand. Investec also supports the International Rugby Academy South Africa which aims to capitalise on an untapped demand for high performance in playing and coaching rugby in South Africa. Investec became a long-term sponsor of The Derby festival in the UK in 2009. The deal was extended to run until 2026 but
2024-537: The "Arabs" from Bristol . By the 1890s, Welsh clubs were starting to become regular opponents, with Cardiff and Penarth regularly appearing in the fixture list. With a traditionally lightweight pack, they would suffer regular defeats. The club played its first fixture against overseas opposition in 1907, as Racing Club de Bordelais crossed the Channel to play at the Rec. 1954 saw a first overseas tour by Bath, who beat
2112-702: 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
2200-665: The 12-year period were known as the Investec International Series (formerly the Investec Challenge) and were played at Twickenham Stadium , England. In 2010 Investec became the official sponsors of the Tri Nations rugby competition in New Zealand, now known as The Rugby Championship . In 2016 the deal was extended through to 2020, and in 2019 the competition was known as The Investec Rugby Championship in New Zealand. Investec has sponsored
2288-539: The 2004–05 season and also reached the RFU Cup final, though lost to Leeds at Twickenham after a poor display. By the end of the 2004–05 season, coach John Connolly had announced his intention to return to his native Australia, having created one of the most dominant packs in club rugby. In 2006 they defeated Leicester Tigers in the quarter finals at a sold out Walkers' Stadium in Leicester, Bath then went on to lose
2376-605: The 2016/17 season onwards – taking the capacity to 14,500 spectators for home games. The works took place during the 2016 off-season and saw the West Stand partially demolished and improved facilities provided, including bars, food outlets and toilets. The new consents will last for four years and will enable Bath to focus solely on resolution of a permanent redevelopment solution for the Rec, without on-going debate around temporary stands during this period. Permanent development proposals are intended to be brought forward long before
2464-499: The 2022–23 season, South African coach Johann van Graan joined Bath. Van Graan turned Bath around in his first season. The team's improvement in form over the course of the campaign culminated with a 61–29 win over Saracens on the final day, which saw them edge neighbours and rivals Bristol Bears for eighth in the table and a place in the 2023–24 Champions Cup. Bath finished the 2023/2024 regular season in 2nd place, their highest finish since 2015. After defeating Sale Sharks in
2552-542: 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. 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
2640-488: The Challenge Cup will earn a place regardless of league position. Team distribution is typically: Until 2018–19, the final team each season qualified through a play-off competition between the best placed unqualified teams. 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
2728-699: 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
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2816-628: The French teams St Claude (23–3). The trip was repeated the following year with wins against St Claude (13–8), Dijon (14–0) and Macon (8–3) as captain Peter Sibley was the first to develop the ethos for fast, attacking rugby in the Sixties. With six-foot four-inch players such as England international back row David Gay , Peter Heindorff, Sibley had players with physique to impose this style of play. The side continued to develop Bath's reputation in
2904-479: The Heineken Cup was won for a second time by Toulon at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May 2014. 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. Following
2992-786: The Jockey Club agreed to terminate the sponsorship in 2020 after the delayed running of the 241st Derby Festival on 4 July 2020. The two-day race meet became known as the Investec Derby Festival, incorporating two of the five British Classic Races , The Oaks and The Derby, the latter of which is also commonly known as the Greatest Flat race in the World. Investec has also sponsored the Investec Cape Derby in South Africa since 2009. Investec became
3080-522: 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
3168-993: The UK and Channel Islands for £839 million. The deal excludes Investec Bank (Switzerland) and Investec International wealth business. Investec employs approximately 8,200 people worldwide and operates primarily in South Africa and the United Kingdom . It also has banking operations in Ireland , Switzerland , Mauritius , Guernsey , India , Jersey , and the United States . Investec consists of two areas of activity, namely: wealth, and investment and banking. Its specialist banking divisions include private banking, for high net worth and high income individuals, and corporate and investment banking, providing lending, transactional banking, treasury and trading, advisory and investment services. In July 2002, Investec became
3256-425: The UK market in 1992, by acquiring London-based Allied Trust Bank Limited ('ATB'), its first international acquisition. In 1998, Investec acquired Guinness Mahon , a leading London based merchant bank, and Henderson Crosthwaite, its stockbroking arm, for £95 million. It also bought Hambros plc , another London-based merchant bank the same year. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2002. In 2003, in
3344-564: The Year award in 2015 while his son, George Ford , won Player of the Year. However, after a disappointing campaign that saw Bath finish 9th in the table, Mike Ford left the club at the end of the 2015–2016 season. The 2021–22 season was Bath's worst ever campaign. They finished bottom of the Premiership for the first time in their history, and suffered their greatest ever defeat, against rivals, Gloucester, losing 64–0 at Kingsholm . Ahead of
3432-400: The aggregate of their wins in both versions. French clubs have the highest number of victories (12 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
3520-525: The charitable status of the Rec has prevented progress, but in 2013 the Charity Commission recommended a scheme to allow the club's former training ground at Lambridge to be exchanged for an extended footprint on the Rec free from the charitable rules. While a few appeals remain to be heard, the club is pushing on with designs for an 18,500-seat stadium, and intends to apply for planning permission in 2014. The First Tier Tribunal decided to limit
3608-470: 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
European Rugby Champions Cup - Misplaced Pages Continue
3696-409: The club's European record or current status in the Heineken Champions Cup." 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". Because of the COVID-19 pandemic
3784-434: 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
3872-537: 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. In 2006, Munster defeated Biarritz in the Millennium Stadium , Cardiff , 23–19. It was third time lucky for the Irish provincial side, who had previously been denied
3960-468: The contract came to an end in August 2020. Investec has been involved in a number of rugby sponsorships around the world, stating that "rugby embodies Investec's beliefs in collaborative teamwork, innovative play and determination and it’s for these reasons that we support many rugby initiatives". From 2000 to 2011 Investec sponsored England Rugby Union home autumn internationals. The 35 games throughout
4048-435: 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. The EPCR may now also use its discretion to allow semi-finals to be played at a qualified club's home venue. The winners of the semi-finals will contest the final, which will be held in May each season. Because of
4136-428: The early Seventies with wins over the top Welsh sides. However, the revolution began with the arrival of coach Jack Rowell in 1978. Rowell transformed the ethos of a club that had traditionally drawn local players. When formalised competitions started in the 1980s Jack Rowell brought premature professionalism to Bath and began to assemble a side with power and precision. The power, provided by Gareth Chilcott , and
4224-737: The expiry of the four-year period. Au updated decision in December 2016 from the Charity First-Tier Tribunal relating to a revised Scheme for the governance of the Bath Recreation Ground, including the use of the Recreation Ground site, was said by the club to "re-open the door to redevelopment at the Rec". Between the 2016–17 and 2018–19 seasons, Bath Rugby played an annual home fixture at Twickenham Stadium . The fixture; dubbed The Clash
4312-591: 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. 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
4400-453: The final. 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. 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
4488-519: The first English club to do the double of winning both League and Cup. 1990 saw the last of six consecutive Twickenham final wins, with the club defeating Gloucester 48–6. 1993–94 saw the team win the Anglo Welsh Cup, beating Leicester. In May 1996, Bath Rugby and Wigan made history by playing against each other at both codes . The first match was at Maine Road , Manchester under League rules and saw Bath struggle, eventually losing 82–6. In
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#17327724494074576-609: The first South African company to list on both the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges, by implementing a dual listed companies (DLC) structure. The main features of the DLC structure are: Investec's approach to transformation within South Africa involves: Investec announced a ten-year title sponsorship of Investec Test Match cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board on 24 November 2011 at Lord's Cricket Ground . The deal covered all home test series and ran for six years until
4664-441: 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. 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
4752-465: 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. 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
4840-555: The ground is adjusted to make it capable for holding cricket matches. This cricket field is used for local contests and hosted Somerset County Cricket Club for one match a year until 2011. In November 2009 the new chief executive, Nick Blofeld , stated the club is now seeking a mostly seated stadium for 20,000 to suit modern professional rugby, with potential for future expansion, containing "restaurants and cafés, hospitality suites, conference facilities and good food and beverage outlets and other potential retail outlets". The issue of
4928-490: The inaugural competition. 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. Clubs from England and Scotland joined the competition in 1996–97. European rugby
5016-413: 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
5104-433: The land available to the club which has meant that pending leave to appeal the club's development plans have had to be put on ice. As a result, the club has put in a planning application to extend its capacity to 14,000 on a temporary basis for next two seasons to cover their 150th anniversary celebrations in 2015. After being successful with recent planning applications, the club has been able to increase capacity by 1,000 for
5192-544: 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. 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
5280-401: The next season. In the disastrous league campaign of 2002–03, relegation was avoided by only a single point on the last day. Having narrowly avoided relegation and merger with rivals Bristol in the 2002–03 season, the club invested heavily in its squad, the team ended the regular season at the top of the table six points, but lost in the play-off final match at Twickenham . Bath finished 4th in
5368-545: The official shirt sponsor for Tottenham Hotspur 's domestic cup games and UEFA Champions League games for the 2010/2011 and UEFA Europa League games for the 2011/2012 seasons. This sponsorship marked the first promotion into the football world for Investec. In 2014, Investec became the official shirt sponsor for Widnes F.C. in the North West Counties Football League Division One . Since 2005 Investec has been sponsoring
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#17327724494075456-593: The play off final, this entitles them to in the 2024-25 European Rugby Champions Cup . The current Head of Rugby is Johann van Graan , who started in July 2022. Matches with local rivals Bristol Bears and Gloucester are referred to as West Country derbies . Bath also have a longstanding rivalry with Leicester Tigers . Bath Football Club is one of the oldest clubs in existence, having been founded in 1865 by members of Lansdown Cricket Club in Bath, for 'something to do in
5544-401: The precision of Roger Spurrell, was complemented by the quality of John Horton and winger David Trick . By 1984, the first of ten knock-out cup successes had been achieved, at the expense of Bristol. Bath dominated the Anglo-Welsh Cup final winning it four years on a trot, from 1984 to 1987. Bath, after a blip in 1988, dominated, winning it a further six times. The formalised rugby structure
5632-524: The remaining shares in Rensburg Sheppards plc in 2010. This business has since been rebranded as Investec Wealth & Investment and incorporates other wealth activities previously operated through the bank. In June 2012, Investec plc completed the €32 million acquisition of Irish brokerage firm, NCB. As a result, Investec now employs more than 240 specialists in Ireland. In December 2017, Investec acquired Amicus Commercial Finance and rebranded it as Investec Capital Solutions. In September 2018, following
5720-545: 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. 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 The sixteen remaining teams are seeded from 1–16 based on performance in their respective pool. The top two teams in each of
5808-400: The return fixture under Union rules at Twickenham , Bath were able to regain a measure of pride by beating Wigan 44–19. Jack Rowell 's departure in 1995 and rugby union becoming a professional sport in 1996 had seen Bath struggle to find consistency either on or off the field. With regular changes in the coaching staff and a steady turnaround of players, the formula that led to past successes
5896-436: The rights. 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
5984-404: 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
6072-412: The semi-final, Bath competed against Northampton Saints in the Premiership Final, where Bath suffered a narrow 25–21 defeat. Bath play at the Recreation Ground , also known as "The Rec". The stadium is in the centre of the city, next to the River Avon. For the 2009–10 season the ground capacity was expanded to 11,700, and Bath play all of their home matches there during the club season. During summer,
6160-434: The semi-finals against Biarritz. As they finished 9th in the league that year, Bath were ineligible for the 2006–07 competition, instead contesting in the European Challenge Cup, the second level of European rugby. Steve Meehan was appointed the new acting head coach in the summer of 2006. In 2008 Bath won their first trophy in ten years, beating Worcester in the European Challenge Cup . On 14 April 2010, Bath Rugby announced
6248-441: 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. English clubs returned in 1999–00. The pool stages were spread over three months to allow
6336-488: The six nations. On 20 May it was announced that both French and English top-tier teams would be competing 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
6424-783: The squad number and Grant UK at the bottom. On the back of the shorts, Dyson (who is also at the centre on the front of the shirt) is on the top while on the bottom, the Bendac Group is on the left and Your Red Car is on the right. Castore are the kit supplier from the 2023–24 season. Key The Bath Rugby squad for the 2024–25 season is: Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality. Source: Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality. The following are players which have represented their countries at
6512-569: The summer of 2017, when the company exercised a break clause in its contract with the ECB . Investec became the principal sponsor of the England and Great Britain Women's Hockey teams in July 2011, from grassroots to international level, for an undisclosed sum. The agreement was initially for a term of five years, and in March 2016 the deal was extended for an additional four years but was not renewed when
6600-433: 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. 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
6688-411: 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. 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
6776-460: 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, 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
6864-649: The title twice. 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
6952-416: 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
7040-435: 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. The 2006–07 Heineken Cup would be distributed to over 100 countries following Pitch International's securing of
7128-523: The winter'. This is the reason why the club colours of the two clubs are identical. With an original home base at The North Parade Ground , in Bathwick, The team then led a nomadic existence during the 1800s playing at Claverton Down, Lambridge Meadows, Taylor's Field and Henrietta Park. They then leased a plot of land at Pulteney Meadow, where today's Rec stands, with most games played against local opposition: Weston-super-Mare , Gloucester , Clifton and
7216-931: 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 once in a nation that is not part of the competition; San Mamés Stadium , Bilbao in Spain held the 2018 final. As of 2024 the final has never been held in South Africa or Italy. 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. Up to date as of 31 May 2024 The number of goals includes both penalties and conversions. Up to date as of 31 May 2024 Single season records up to date as of 20 December 2023 Investec Investec
7304-464: Was formed in 1987, and Bath dominated the early years of the first division, being crowned league champions six times in just eight years and doing the "double" four times. Bath were an unstoppable force in 1988–89 and ran away with the league title, winning the first ten of their eleven league matches. A week later, in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final at Twickenham, Bath beat Leicester 10–6 to become
7392-486: 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. 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
7480-415: Was normally played around Easter and formed part of a five-year deal to host games at Twickenham. The 2017 match had an attendance of 61,868, and the 2018 match had 60,880 spectators. Between 2020 and 2023, the kit was supplied by Macron . On the front of the shirt, Dyson is at the centre. Compeed appears on the left sleeve. On the back of the shirt, Thatchers is at the top with Avon Protection on top of
7568-497: Was particularly successful between 1984 and 1998 when it won 10 Domestic Cups , 6 League titles , and was the first English side to win the European Cup in 1998 . In 2008 Bath also won the European Challenge Cup , the continent's second tier of competition. Bath is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from the top division of English rugby. Bath finished 2nd in the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby season, losing
7656-513: Was still being sought, albeit Bath still managed to be the first British club to lift the European Cup in the 1997–1998 season. Bath beat French club Brive 19–18 in an exciting final in Bordeaux with Jon Callard scoring all the points for Bath. Off the field, the official supporters' club of Bath Rugby was formed in January 1997. Despite European glory, Bath slumped to sixth in the league
7744-438: 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. 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. Fabien Galthié 's Paris side led until two minutes from the end of normal time before Frédéric Michalak levelled
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