Bloodgate, the ‘Hand of Back’ and a drop goal off ‘someone’s arse’ are among the tournament’s delightful eccentricitiesOn the eve of a new Champions Cup season it is worth remembering when and where it all began. The answer is 30 years ago on the shores of the Black Sea where Farul Constanta of Romania hosted France’s mighty Toulouse in the opening pool game of the old Heineken Cup on 31 October 1995.Let’s just say they were different times. The match was played on a Tuesday and, while the crowd was recorded as 3,000, eyewitnesses were focused on the large number of security personnel with barking Alsatian dogs straining at the leash. Toulouse, boasting an array of internationals including Émile Ntamack and Thomas Castaignède, duly registered eight tries and won 54-10. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/02/rugb-union-breakdown-thirty-years-of-the-champions-cup">Continue reading...</a>

بدأت بطولة الأبطال قبل 30 عامًا بمباراة بين فارول كونستانتا وتولوز، وأصبحت بطولة مهمة في رياضة الرجبي، حيث عرضت لحظات لا تُنسى مثل Bloodgate وHand of Back. المباراة الافتتاحية، التي أقيمت في 31 أكتوبر 1995، شهدت فوز تولوز بنتيجة 54-10، مما يبرز الإثارة وروح المنافسة في بدايات البطولة.

La Champions Cup, que comenzó hace 30 años con un partido entre Farul Constanta y Toulouse, se ha convertido en un torneo significativo en el rugby, mostrando momentos memorables como Bloodgate y la Mano de Back. El partido inaugural, celebrado el 31 de octubre de 1995, vio a Toulouse triunfar con un marcador de 54-10, destacando la emoción y el espíritu competitivo de los primeros días del torneo.

La Champions Cup, qui a débuté il y a 30 ans avec un match entre Farul Constanta et Toulouse, est devenue un tournoi majeur du rugby, mettant en avant des moments mémorables tels que Bloodgate et la Main de Back. Le match inaugural, tenu le 31 octobre 1995, a vu Toulouse triompher avec un score de 54-10, soulignant l'excitation et l'esprit compétitif des débuts du tournoi.

The Champions Cup, which began 30 years ago with a match between Farul Constanta and Toulouse, has become a significant tournament in rugby, showcasing memorable moments such as Bloodgate and the Hand of Back. The inaugural game, held on October 31, 1995, saw Toulouse triumph with a score of 54-10, highlighting the tournament's early excitement and competitive spirit.

The Breakdown | Thirty years of Champions Cup has given us the beastly, beautiful and bizarre

<ul><li>Arsenal represent Europe in four-game tournament</li><li>Matches to be played in London from 28 January</li></ul>Fifa has been unable to sell TV rights to its first global women’s club competition, the Champions Cup, which is taking place in London from 28 January. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/24/arsenal-grab-womens-champions-league-final-glory-against-barcelona">Champions League holders, Arsenal</a>, will represent Europe in the competition that features the winners of the continental championships.The situation has echoes of Fifa’s struggle to sell TV rights to the men’s Club World Cup this year, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/apr/23/club-world-cup-to-be-broadcast-live-on-channel-5-in-uk-after-dazn-deal">bought by the global streaming platform Dazn</a>, which sold a $1bn stake to the Saudi Arabian vehicle SURJ Sports Investment. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/03/tv-rights-womens-champions-cup-unsold-fifa-arsenal">Continue reading...</a>

فشلت فيفا في بيع حقوق التلفزيون لبطولة كأس الأبطال النسائية الأولى، التي من المقرر أن تُقام في لندن اعتبارًا من 28 يناير، حيث يمثل أرسنال أوروبا. تعكس هذه الحالة الصعوبات الأخيرة التي واجهتها فيفا في تأمين صفقات البث لمنافسات أخرى، بما في ذلك كأس العالم للأندية للرجال.

Fifa no ha logrado vender los derechos de televisión para su primera Copa de Campeonas, que se llevará a cabo en Londres a partir del 28 de enero, con el Arsenal como representante de Europa. Esta situación refleja las dificultades recientes de Fifa para asegurar acuerdos de transmisión para otras competiciones, incluida la Copa Mundial de Clubes masculina.

Fifa n'a pas réussi à vendre les droits TV pour sa première Coupe des Champions féminine, qui se déroulera à Londres à partir du 28 janvier, avec Arsenal comme représentant de l'Europe. Cette situation fait écho aux difficultés récentes de Fifa à sécuriser des accords de diffusion pour d'autres compétitions, y compris la Coupe du Monde des clubs masculins.

Fifa has failed to sell the TV rights for its inaugural Women’s Champions Cup, which is set to take place in London starting January 28, featuring Arsenal as the representative from Europe. This situation mirrors Fifa's recent difficulties in securing broadcast deals for other competitions, including the men’s Club World Cup.

The Breakdown | Thirty years of Champions Cup has given us the beastly, beautiful and bizarre

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