2008–09 Heineken Cup

The Heineken Cup 2008 /09 was the 14th edition of the Heineken Cup, the main European cup competition in rugby union. It involved 24 teams from six countries. The first of a total of 78 games were held on 10 October 2008, the final was held on 23 May 2009 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh instead. Defending champion was the Irish team Munster Rugby, won the title the English team Leicester Tigers.

  • 3.1 seedings
  • 3.2 quarterfinals
  • 3.3 Semi-finals
  • 3.4 final
  • 4.1 Most scored tests
  • 4.2 Most points scored

Mode

The participants were divided on 17 June 2008 in six groups of four teams. The seeding order for the first time based on the results of individual clubs in recent years. Each team played one home and one away match against the three group opponents. In the group stage the teams received

  • Four points for a win
  • Two points for a draw
  • A bonus point with four or more experiments
  • A bonus point for a loss by seven points or less difference

For the quarterfinals, the six group winners qualified ( according to the number of points obtained in the squares 1-6 classified) and the two best runners- conditioned squash courts ( 7-8 classified). Teams ranked 1-4 had home advantage in the quarter-finals. It played the first against the Eighth, the second against the Seventh, the third party against the Sixth and Fourth against the fifth.

Group stage

  • Group winners qualified for the quarterfinals
  • Two best runners qualified for the quarter-finals

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Group 5

Group 6

Knockout round

Seedings

Quarterfinals

This game was called " Blood Gate" in history. Dean Richards, the Harlequins coach, was banned for three years because he had faked with fake blood a player Tom Williams injury in order to make a tactical change can. Williams himself had originally been suspended for one year; his sentence was reduced to four months after he had revealed the background of the scandal.

Semifinal

The game ended 26:26 after extra time. It was decided by the first penalty shootout in the history of this sport. Here, the Leicester Tigers prevailed 7-6 recycled penalty kicks.

Final

Statistics

Source: Statistics ERC

Most scored tests

Most points scored

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