The Irish provinces have a love affair with the Heineken Cup, with Munster’s army of supporters enjoying many memorable moments, not least a win at Welford Road (though we did get our own back in Round 6 of that 2006/07 season to make history at Thomond Park) and Leinster have been one of the dominant forces in recent years of continental competition.
But there is no one in the northern part of Ireland who will ever forget that it was Ulster who blazed the trail, lifting the trophy in 1999. That was a full seven years before Munster broke their duck and a decade before Leinster lifted it.
Ravenhill is as proud a place as any in European rugby when it comes to those big days, or nights, in the Heineken Cup.
And this is where Leicester begin their 17th European campaign this evening.
Critics will quickly point out that Tigers have not won European rugby’s biggest title in more than a decade, but they too casually blank out the finals o 2007, when Tigers were chasing an unbelievable treble, and 2009 when they lost by a single converted score to Leinster.
Those final appearances were extremely hard-earned, totally well-deserved but ultimately the trophy was just out of reach.
After being paired with the likes of Toulouse and Clermont in recent seasons, this time it is Ulster, upwardly mobile Montpellier and a growing Treviso for Tigers.
It is a test, that is for certain, and there is the not insignificant Ravenhill factor for starters too. But The Tig and the rest of the travelling Tigers will be right behind the boys from first whistle to last. See you in Belfast!
