Last week saw the return of Europe’s elite rugby competition to the world stage: the Heineken Cup.

The competition draws teams from France, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy. Roping in massive crowds for almost every game, the Heineken Cup is really something special for the players and fans of Europe to engage in.

The prospect every year of giants like Munster and Toulouse meeting in the clash of the titans makes every rugby fan salivate. The cup produces some of the best displays of running rugby in the world as each nation team plays a unique style that contrasts against each other in a rock, paper, scissors fashion.

The competition is contested by seven teams from France, six from England, four from Wales, three from Ireland and two from Italy and Scotland respectively.

This year’s cup is probably the most fiercely contested for years with the arrival of the Italians in the Magners League, while the French, English and Celtic nations teams all harbour realistic prospects of winning the competition.

Last week’s action didn’t disappoint, with all the English clubs playing.

Watford based Saracens ran out against a strong Clermont team that seems to go far every year. Saracens were edged by their opponents 25-10 where Clermont were gifted three tries by sloppy passing by the visiting Englishmen.

Sarries showed spark throughout at the Stade Marcel Michelin but a workmen like performance from the French denied the visitors tries on numerous occasions, capitalising on mistakes for scores.

Leicester kicked off their European campaign against an ever improving Treviso and the Stadio Comunale di Monigo was treated to a thriller that came down to the wire.

Other results over the weekend saw a plucky London Irish take all the points against giants Munster.

Northampton laboured to an 18-14 win over Castres Olimpique where no team shone. While Bath and London Wasps both succumbed to defeats to their French opposition, Toulouse and Biarritz.

The forthcoming game looks to be just as good with a trip for Bath away in Italy at Aironi while Northampton head up north to bear the brunt of the Scots.

London Irish take the journey down the M4 to play the Magners League winners at the Liberty.

Wasps and Leicester both play at home, while the showpiece of the weekend is set to unfold at Wembley with Saracens entertaining Leinster at their adopted home.