The tournament was launched in the summer of 1995 on the initiative of the then Five Nations Committee - now the Six - in order to provide a new level of professional cross border competition.
Twelve teams from Ireland, France, Wales, Italy and Romania took part in the 1995 / 1996 tournament, competing in four Pools of three with the group winners going directly into the semi-finals.

In the final, played in front of a crowd of 21,800 at Cardiff Arms Park on 6 January, 1996, Toulouse required extra time before beating Cardiff 21-18 to become the first champions of Europe.