Heineken Cup

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The tournament, which is known at the “H Cup” in France because of the country’s alcohol advertising laws, was formed in 1995 by the Five Nations league to allow professional teams to compete with clubs in other countries. Twelve teams competed in the first year of competition.

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Twenty-four teams are entered in the 2006-07 Heineken Cup. The teams are divided into six pools of four teams. Clubs play home and away games with the teams in their pool. Four points are awarded for a win and two points for a draw. A bonus point is given for a loss by seven or fewer points, or for scoring four tries or more.

Places in the Heineken Cup competition are allocated as follows: Six teams from both France and England, three from both Ireland and Wales and two each from Scotland and Italy.

Also, the winners of the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup qualify for the next Heineken Cup and are awarded places from their country’s allocation.

Another team comes from France, England or Italy, depending on whose team progressed further in the previous season’s tournament. The last place in the competition goes to the winner of a playoff between the top team in the Celtic League that has not already qualified and the top semi-finalist in the Italian Super 10.

The six pool winners, ranked one to six according to the number of points scored, and the two best-placed runners-up, advance to the quarter finals. Teams ranked one through four have home field advantage.

The four winning teams compete in the semi-finals on neutral venues and those two winners move on to the championship game that is held at a predetermined site. The 2006-07 title game will be played at Twickenham Stadium in London.

Munster of Ireland defeated Biarritz of France, 23-19, to capture the 2005-06 Heineken Cup. The game was played at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff before 74,534 spectators.

Toulouse, France, has won three championships, 2004-05, 2002-03 and 1995-96. The Leicester, England, Tigers own two crowns, 2001-02 and 2000-01. Other recent winners are the London Wasps, 2003-04; Northampton, England, Saints, 1999-00; Ulster, Ireland, 1998-99; Bath, England, 1997-98; and Brive, France, 1996-97.

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