Share
10th December 2025
04:27pm GMT
With the 2025/2026 Champions Cup in full swing, we bring you the ultimate all-time XV for the competition once known as the Heineken Cup.
Many of his performances from 2009 - 2013 were utterly devastating as he helped usher in a new age of lean and athletic props.
Mako Vunipola, Gethin Jenkins and Sylvain Marconnet deserve mentions, but Healy's record speaks for itself.
He played in eight finals; starting in five and winning four.
A legend in Munster, but probably underrated outside his province.
With the set-piece growing in importance year on year, he would have had an even greater impact in today's game as one of the most accurate lineout throwers to ever play the sport.
Hard as nails, and a double Heineken Cup winner.
There have been more destructive scrummagers over the years, such as Carl Hayman and Jean-Baptiste Poux, but none have had the all-round game that the New Ross man possesses.
An all-Irish front row feels a little bit biased, but it is hard to argue against.
There is lots of competition in the row, with Martin Johnson, Fabien Pelous and Will Skelton all worthy candidates.
The consistency of the man is otherworldly; still at the top of the game today, nearly a decade on from winning European Player of the Year in 2016.
He was the driving force behind Saracens' three Champions Cup titles in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Arguably the most iconic figure in the competition's history.
Was not gifted with the athletic abilities of others, but did everything that he was capable of to the highest standard, while his influence and leadership was unmatched.
The Tullow man had a reputation as an injury-prone star, and for good reason, but he had a knack for making big games and played in all three of Leinster's Heineken Cup final wins in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
He had the ability to take over games like few others could, and won EPOTY in 2011.
A man so destructive in his prime that he was often unplayable, and the best player in Toulon's historic three-in-a-row from 2013 to 2015.
He won EPOTY in 2014, and made the shortlist in 2015 and the longlist in 2013 and 2016.
This backrow won't win any popularity contests, but it is what happens on the field that counts.
Vunipola's performance in the 2019 final was up there with Sexton in 2011 and Dupont in 2024, and sets him apart from Lawrence Dallaglio, Jamie Heaslip, Gregory Alldritt, Imanol Harinordoquy, Sergio Parisse, and Anthony Foley.
The first name on the team sheet is the man who may end up being the GOAT when all is said and done.
He is the only player to win EPOTY twice, and will surely add to that tally and his two titles with Toulouse.
8. Antoine Dupont vs Leinster - 2024 pic.twitter.com/K8uYuFDq7A
— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) August 1, 2025
Since replacing Felipe Contepomi in the 2009 semi-final and slotting a kick with his first act of the game, Sexton never looked back.
His performance in Leinster's comeback win in the 2011 final against Northampton wrote him into folklore, and even with competition from Ronan O'Gara, Jonny Wilkinson and Owen Farrell, he reigns supreme.
10. Johnny Sexton vs Northampton - 2011 pic.twitter.com/N5bdxeIE5Z
— Andrew Forde (@andrewfrugby) August 1, 2025
The Englishman's tournament record of 41 tries in 70 games is too hard to ignore.
He did most of his damage with Northampton and Saracens in the early to mid 2010s, but was still scoring for Leicester Tigers in 2022.
It is tempting to put Wesley Fofana at 12, whose attacking verve lit up the competition on many an occasion.
But it's the older statesman who has the trophies to show over Clermont nearly-men.
And trumping these accolades is being name-checked by both Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy as one of their toughest opponents.
One of easier choices in the team.
Only Dupont could rival his greatness, at least in the backline.
Penaud's incredible strike rate of 0.82 tries per game gets him in ahead of fellow countryman Vincent Clerc and the maverick Sitiveni Sivivatu.
He is now just nine tries behind Clerc's second-all-time 36, and given he scored 14 in last year's tournament, he may go and beat it this season.
A man who could play across the backline, offer leadership, tactical nous and goal-kicking.
Coming out of retirement before helping Leinster bring home the 2018 Champions Cup trophy cements his place in the team.
Explore more on these topics:
