With the European Champions Cup semi-finals this weekend, thoughts can’t help but wander to the heroes of past and present representing our provinces on the biggest stage in European club rugby.
Irish clubs have proven some of the most successful in the Champions Cup and Heineken Cup before it.
With that in mind, here is Ireland’s top 15 performers in Europe’s top rugby competition.
1. Cian Healy (65 appearances, 50 points, 3 European titles)
His European prowess can’t be argued with. The Dubliner has managed 10 tries in Europe’s top flight, a huge accomplishment for a front rower. He could nearly even be considered the Cristiano Ronaldo of rugby – if you wanted to go there – amassing and the same number as his domestic record but in 50 appearances fewer.
2. Keith Wood (25 appearances, 35 points)
It’s a tough call leaving Rory Best out. In Ulster terms he is one of Europe’s best leaders and his caps far outweigh Wood’s. The Munster man’s points to appearance ratio and unmatched ability just pipped Best to the place. The hooker almost captained Munster to Heineken Cup glory in 2002 when famously Ronan O’Gara left several kicks behind him in a single point loss.
3. John Hayes (101 appearances, 10 points, 2 European titles)
Possibly the hardest pick of the list. Tadhg Furlong, who so early in his career could be argued as Ireland’s best ever tighthead prop, has already scored more and picked up more MOTM awards in far fewer games, but Hayes takes the number 3 because of his longevity in the competition. The Bull has the second most caps ever in the Heineken Cup, just one short of ROG, a feat made even more impressive by him playing his first game of rugby at the age of 18. For his passion and leadership, Hayes scrapes this spot. For now.
4. Leo Cullen (92 appearances, 5 points, 3 European titles)
It’s a toss-up between Donncha O’Callaghan and Cullen here. The prior gave us that hit on Chabal in 2006 and his famous red jocks but Leo Cullen takes the spot because of his on-field leadership. So much of a leader was the second rower that he captained Leinster to three Heineken Cups, the only player ever to captain three European winning teams. Now Leinster’s head coach, Cullen is favourite to be the winning coach of this year’s Champion’s Cup.
5. Paul O’Connell (82 appearances, 45 points, 2 titles)
This one requires little argument. O’Connell was Munster’s talisman for over a decade and his addition to European rugby was paralleled by almost none. So good was the Limerick man that in 2013 after an injury left him on the sideline for seven months he returned to the stoop to inspire a win against Harlequins that no one said was possible. The lock was and will remain one of Europe’s best.
6. Stephen Ferris (31 appearances, 10 points)
Ferris’ career was over all too soon. Around the time when he was forced into retirement, because of an ankle injury, it seemed that Ferris could inspire Ulster to something special. The Heineken Cup final in 2012, when Leinster decimated Ulster, was the closest he got to having his hands on the trophy, but Ferris earns his spot for the sheer skill he displayed in his time in the white jersey.
7. Sean O’Brien (43 appearances, 55 points, 3 titles)
The Tullow tank spring-boarded his career in Leinster’s ’09/10 campaign and has continued his form since. His four tries in the ’10/’11 Heineken Cup were pivotal in Leinster’s triumph and helped to earn him ‘EPCR European Player of the Year’ award. His ability to play anywhere in the backrow and his sheer force on the pitch earns him the number seven spot.
8. Anthony Foley (86 appearances, 115 points, 2 titles)
Anthony Foley epitomised why Munster won two Heineken Cups. His grit and determination on the field and leadership both on and off were key to Munster’s success. Captain in his side’s 2006 triumph, Foley went on to win one more before taking the helm as head coach. After his untimely death in 2016, he still managed to inspire his team, who for Foley’s honour, went on an unbeaten run including the demolition of Glasgow Warriors, Leicester Tigers and Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup.
9. Eoin Reddan (80 appearances, 45 points, 3 titles)
Peter Stringer may feel hard done by here after his ruse on Serge Betson in 2008 won Munster a Heineken Cup. Murray too of course is notably is Ireland’s and Munster’s best ever scrumhalf but neither make the cut. Although Reddan was kept off the Munster team by Stringer and forced to leave the club, the native Munster man makes it because of his three titles for two different clubs (Leinster and London Wasps) and the fact that he played top flight European rugby for three different clubs. In the 2006/07 campaign Reddan scored two tries in Wasps’ quarter-final triumph over Leinster and another in their victorious final against Leicester.
10. Ronan O’Gara (110 appearances, 1365 points, 2 titles)
There might be a few arguments for this one, but they’re wrong. Johnny Sexton has won three titles and he almost single headedly beat Northampton in 2011. He is a hugely accomplished player but in European rugby terms at least, ROG is number one. Not only is the Corkonian the front runner for this out half spot, he is also European rugby’s best ever. The record European points and caps holder received the honour of being named the Heineken Cup’s best ever player by the ERC, toasting his incredible European record. ROG has offered us some of the best moments in European rugby, from his try against Leinster in 2006 to his 41st phase, 80th minute drop goal to beat Northampton in 2011. Munster’s successes in the Heineken Cup are largely down to the boot and mind of Ronan O’Gara and he is without doubt Ireland’s best ever player in European rugby.
11. Tommy Bowe (66 appearances, 145 points)
Bowe has a European try scoring record second only in Ireland to Brian O’Driscoll and with 29 he is joint fourth on the all-time European record. Having left Ulster for Ospreys, the transitional phase of the Monaghan man’s last few years for the Welsh team and first few back at Ulster saw him scoring tries by the bucket load. Without injury there is every chance that Bowe could have overtaken Chris Ashton, on 39, as top try scorer in Europe.
12. Gordon D’Arcy (104 appearances, 145 points, 3 titles)
Gordon D’Arcy makes up the first half of arguably the best centre partnership world rugby has ever seen. With the second most appearances in European Cups and the 6th most tries, the Wexford man is value for his place. Notably D’Arcy is equal on points with Tommy Bowe who scored three tries more, the extra points coming from D’Arcy’s singular conversion, four penalties and two drop goals.
13. Brian O’Driscoll (87 appearances, 168 points, 3 titles)
Ireland’s best ever player. With 33 tries in Europe’s top flight, BOD sits third on the list of all-time top try scorers in Europe, just five from Chris Ashton’s tally. At the 15-year anniversary of the beginning of the Heineken Cup O’Driscoll was named in the Heineken Cup dream team and recognised as one of the most important players to grace European club rugby. O’Driscoll was Leinster’s talisman for over a decade and was the cornerstone of all of their European Cup successes.
14. Shane Horgan (87 appearances, 138 points, 2 titles)
Shaggy just pips Andrew Trimble to this spot. The two share the sixth spot in the top try scorer list but Horgan’s 16 more appearances and solitary drop goal get him the 14 jersey. Top try scorer in the 2004/05 season Horgan consistently got him name on the score-sheet for Leinster in Europe and was one of the major factors in their first two successful European campaigns.
15. Simon Mason (27 appearances, 304 points, 1 title)
Rob Kearney will feel that he deserves this spot and he very nearly does. As one of only three Irish men to enjoy the accolade of European player of the year, and for his effort in 2012, Kearney should definitely feel somewhat aggrieved. Mason makes the cut however because he was a point scoring machine for Ulster when they paved the way for Irish European success in the 98/99 season. In that year’s final, Mason kicked six penalties to see off Colomiers. The very next season in Stade Français, Mason was part of a team that dominated the tournament until the very last stage when they lost a final to Leicester Tigers 34 – 30.
