"There was a time when the European Cup had an overwhelmingly Irish flavour. The organisers' headquarters were in Dublin and between 2006 and 2012 either Munster or Leinster lifted the trophy five times in seven seasons. Everyone else was forced to scrabble around for the last few uneaten Tayto crisps in the bag. And now? The tournament, officially known these days as the Investec Champions Cup, has tilted so far towards France you can practically smell the garlic."
"Since 2021, there have been five successive French winners and on three occasions in that time, the Challenge Cup has also disappeared across the Channel. With next May's final scheduled for Bilbao in the Basque Country, barely 120km across the French border, this year's question is obvious: can anyone stop the seemingly inevitable? Even before a ball is kicked or an eye is gouged iit feels like something special will be needed to prevent another Gallic procession."
The Investec Champions Cup is currently dominated by French Top 14 clubs, who have won five successive titles since 2021 and frequently claim the Challenge Cup. Tournament headquarters moved to Switzerland for tax reasons, yet on-field and financial power rests with French clubs. The next final in Bilbao sits close to the French border, underlining French influence. Several traditional rivals lack momentum: Leinster sit sixth in the URC, multiple English clubs occupy the Premiership's lower half, Scarlets are bottom of the URC, and South African packs cannot sustain endless exertion. Only a handful of non-French sides hold realistic hopes of deep runs.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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