Ten years ago today, Ulster lift Heineken Cup

The English may have turned their back on the Heineken Cup for a season, but their temporary absence didn't negate the advance of the tournament. While some thought the boycott might bring about the end of the European Rugby Cup, Ulster made sure the 1998/99 season will never be forgotten.

Harry Williams prepared his teams brilliantly to reach the final and David Humphreys ensured his men measured up to the tasks. And if any team has deserved to be crowned European champions, then it is Ulster.

They did it the hard way - beating no fewer than four French sides along the way, including Toulouse twice.

It was the season that saw Andy Ward become the dominant back row man - and a Dad half-way through the semi-final against Toulouse - in Europe, Simon Mason become 'Mr Reliable' with the boot, Jonny Bell and Jan Cunningham become the most forceful centre pairing around and Gary Longwell and Tony McWhirter become lauded as two of the most hard working forwards in the game.

Then there were the fans. Always magnificent in their support of their team at 'Fortress Ravenhill' they marched on Lansdowne Road for the final in their tens of thousands. It was a case of 'will the last man out of Belfast please turn off the lights'.

As Ulster chief executive Michael Reid explained, he had 60,000 applications for 30,000 tickets. By the time Colomiers walked out at Lansdowne Road there were more than 40,000 Ulstermen packed into the ground.

As Humphreys walked his team across the road to the great old stadium from the Barclay Court Hotel the fans in the street opened up like the Red Sea and gave their heroes a clear pathway.

They clapped and cheered them into the stadium. After that, and the reception they gave them at the start of the game, there could be only one winner.

The final itself may not have been a classic, but in terms of drama and sporting theatre it remains one of the greatest moments in the tournament's history.

The heroes of 1999 were back together again this week to celebrate their great deeds of 10 years ago. Last night there was a special game to commemorate the 10th anniversary and a dinner afterwards.

Justin Fitzpatrick and Bryn Cunningham are still playing for Ulster, Humphreys is now the Operations Director, Bell has recently been appointed the Elite Player Development Officer for the Ulster Rugby Academy, Longwell is High Performance Manager for the Ulster Rugby Academy and Allen Clarke is High Performance Manager for the IRFU.