For the first time four different nations - England, Ireland, France and Wales - made it through to the 1999/2000 semi-finals. Munster's sensational defeat of Toulouse in Bordeaux ended France's record of having contested every final and the Saints' victory over Llanelli made them the third different English club to make it to the climax of the tournament.

And the new Millennium saw the Saints end over a century of patient waiting for their first major title as a record crowd of 68,441 turned Twickenham into a carnival as Pat Lam's patched up side beat Munster 9-8 in a gripping final.

Munster flanker David Wallace became the first forward to score a Heineken Cup final try but the boot of fly half Paul Grayson sent the Saints class of 2000 marching into the record books.