The Blue, Black and White defeated Brive 19-18 to become the first ever British club to win the competition.

It was a match that had its audience on the edge of their seats for the entirety.

Early in the second half, and nine points adrift, Bath appeared to be on the ropes – with Brive poised to provide the killer punch as they camped on the Bath line with a succession of scrums.

Seven times the 1997 Heineken Cup winners tried to break Bath and seven times Bath refused to buckle. The psychological battle was won and lost in those few power-packed minutes.

But if that settled the mind game, the match still had to be won on the scoreboard and, although Bath left it desperately late – 80 seconds into injury time – full-back Callard clinched it with his fourth penalty.

That was the one and only time Bath were ahead, Brive centre Christophe Lamaison kicking five first half penalties and full-back Alain Penaud adding a drop goal in the 65th minute.

Lamaison had one final penalty goal chance to keep the cup in France but was wide to the right and then fly half Lisandro Arbizu watched in despair as his attempted drop goal also failed to find the target.

Bath joined Toulouse and Brive on the Heineken Cup 'Roll of Honour', and wrote their name in history.

Captain on the day, Andy Nicol lifted the trophy following the encounter alongside his teammates – it was up there with the proudest moments of all their careers.

He said: “Winning the Heineken Cup was without doubt the greatest achievement of my career. I’m so fortunate to have shared it with so many good friends.

“It was just such a special day, for me personally but also for anyone connected with rugby in Bath. Bath had been such a dominant club for so many years, and they’d dominated the English game. We probably always felt that we were the best team in Europe, but there was no European Cup to prove that. So when it started, it became the Holy Grail.

“Walking out for that final, it rivalled anything I was lucky enough to do, captaining my country – just for the atmosphere, it was amazing to see. So many Bath fans had made the journey.

“Then we came back to Bath the next day; 7,000 made the trip, which was incredible, but there was even more waiting in Victoria Park, for us to bring the trophy back to them. This was 1 February, so it was freezing cold, but they were still out there waiting for us!

“I’m so fortunate to have shared the memory with so many good friends.”

Nicol is one of many heroes from 1998 who will be at this weekend’s 25-year anniversary game against Toulon (Saturday 14 January, kick-off 15:15).

Coach Andy Robinson will also be in attendance along with the likes of Adebayo Adedayo, Phil de Glanville, Jeremy Guscott, David Hilton, Dan Lyle, Federico Mendez, Matt Perry, Eric Peters, Mark Regan, Nathan Thomas and Richard Webster to celebrate and reminisce.

The group will be introduced to the crowd at half-time and will take part in a Q&A to reflect on the triumph all those years ago.

But that’s not all!

Before the game has started, the Heineken Cup will be in the Swift Half where fans can have their picture taken. There will also be plenty of sharpies for autographs too!

If that isn’t enough for you, the 1865 Club will also be at the game – this includes a further 100-plus past players!

So, join us this Saturday at The Rec to celebrate our history as well as watch us take on three-time winners Toulon.

tickets

Adult tickets start at just £25, with juniors starting at £15. Secure a family day out for under £100! (based on family of four)

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

Andy Nicol reflects on huge Heineken Cup win 25 years on

Related News