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Williams set for Perpignan return

Tuesday 6 January 2009

Wales' world player of the year Shane Williams will have recovered from a shoulder injury in time to play for his side Ospreys in their crucial European Cup match with French outfit Perpignan on January 17 according to the Welsh club.
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Munster leave it late as Quins down Stade again
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Skrela injured again
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Heineken Cup

The European Rugby Cup (known as the Heineken Cup because of the tournament's sponsorship by Heineken) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from six International Rugby Board (IRB) nations in Europe: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

Romania competed in the first year of the competition only.

The competition is organised by the European Rugby Cup, who are also responsible for the secondary championship, the European Challenge Cup.

It is one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport. The tournament was launched in the European summer of 1995 on the initiative of the then Five Nations committee to provide a new level of professional cross-border competition.

It is sponsored by Dutch brewing company Heineken International (it is known as H-Cup in France because of alcohol advertising restrictions).

Each European nation has a different qualifying system, though in total, 24 teams contest the pool stages in six pools of four.

According to performances, the number of clubs from each nation changes. The tournament is held from October to May, with various stages scheduled around domestic club competitions.

The 2007-08 tournament was won by Ireland's Munster, who beat Toulouse of France 16–13 in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Toulouse have been the most successful team, winning the competition three times. Leicester Tigers have won the tournament twice and are the only team to have won the tournament two years in succession.

Past Winners

2007/08: Munster
2006/07: Wasps
2005/06: Munster
2004/05: Toulouse
2003/04: Wasps
2002/03: Toulouse
2001/02: Leicester
2000/01: Leicester
1999/00: Northampton
1998/99: Ulster
1997/98: Bath
1996/97: Brive
1995/96: Toulouse

Source - Wikipedia