Rugby Stories (2022)

The then-London club won the Premiership title and European Challenge Cup in 2003, but 12 months later they would go one better, claiming a historic league and European Cup double, winning a maiden Heineken Cup crown. With just seconds to go in one of the all-time great finals, Wasps scrum half Rob Howley tried an innocuous looking grubber kick towards the Toulouse try line and the rest is history.

Focussing on Leicester Tigers' first Heineken Cup triumph of the new millenium. The episode looks back at Leicester's domination of English and European rugby, with old stories re-told as ex-players take us inside the Tigers dressing room.

Despite being one the oldest and most popular clubs in English rugby, Harlequins had never won English rugby's top prize. All that changed in 2012 when they ended their long wait for domestic glory.

Exeter Chiefs' rise to the top has been monumental. The club climbed the ladder in the late 90s but struggled for promotion into the top flight until 2010. 10 years after joining the top tier of English rugby, the ‘Exeter Project’ finally delivered under the guidance of long-time head coach Rob Baxter as the Chiefs won a domestic-European double in 2019/20.

Now an established Premiership powerhouse, Bristol were once English rugby's ultimate yo-yo club, bouncing between the top flight and the Championship. The Bears finally hit the big time just days after losing the Premiership semi-final to Wasps, Bristol claimed their first European trophy with the Challenge Cup, beating Toulon 32-19.

When rugby turned professional in 1995, Saracens had just been promoted as champions of the second tier. Following key signings and relocations, domestic cup success came in the late 90s. Following the move back to North London, they added another in 2015, But in 2015/16, Saracens reached new heights to be crowned 'Kings of Europe', beating Racing 92 in Lyon.

The introduction of professionalism in rugby initially hit Bath hard. They lost their coach Jack Rowell to England in 1995 and with regular changes to playing and coaching staff they struggled to maintain consistency until the 1997/98 European Cup campaign. In the final they would travel to Bordeaux to face Brive with a back line full of internationals, and an end to a game unlike any other.

Gloucester is a hot bed of Rugby – but the Cherry and Whites have often been overshadowed by their West Country neighbours Bristol and Bath. European glory had always proved elusive. That was until the 2005/06 season as Gloucester claimed their first piece of European silverware with a 36-34 win over London Irish at The Stoop.

Despite being one of the most venerable names in English club rugby, the trophy cupboard at London Irish has reamined somewhat bare. But all that changed with a team led by Brendan Venter on a sunny day in April 2002. The 2001/02 Powergen Cup Final was on paper a simple equation. Northampton – complete with England internationals like Dawson, Grayson, Cohen and Thompson – would overpower the Irish and pick up the trophy, but the Exiles had other ideas.

Neighbours and bitter local rivals Leicester had eclipsed them in the past. So when Saints got to the final of the 1999/00 Heineken Cup it was a chance to make history. The final would come down to a straight kicking shootout between Paul Grayson for Saints, Ronan O’Gara for Munster, with the Englishman prevailing.

In 2006 Sale Sharks became the first team to top the Premiership table and then claim victory in the end of season play-off final, beating Leicester 45-20. The victory meant Sale winger Jason Robinson became the first player to win a ‘Grand Final’ in both codes.

In 2003/04 Worcester won the National Championship with a perfect record of 26 out of 26. After three successive years of the heartbreak of finishing second, their reward was a place at English rugby's top table. Wins against the likes of Harlequins, Leeds and Wasps followed, but a dip in form resulted in a ‘winner takes all’ final day show down with relegation rivals Northampton which they won.

Newcastle Falcons were previously known as Newcastle Gosforth and under that guise they had mainly occupied the second tier of English rugby, but professionalism changed all that. The Falcons, bankrolled by local businessman and owner of Newcastle United Sir John Hall, became arguably the first professional rugby union club in the world. This team created history to become Premiership champions in 1997/98.