To celebrate the 30th season of the competition, we continue the nominations for the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup 30-Year Dream 15. This week, we’re taking a look at the most world-class wingers.
This season marks the 30th year of the Investec Champions Cup, and to celebrate, we’re asking you to pick a Dream 15 from the history of the competition.
Following our vote to find the best centres of the past 30 years, we continue the voting to see which wingers deserve the following spots in the team. With the help of renowned rugby pundits and media from across the globe, we have narrowed down a shortlist of 10 from which to choose.
We start off our shortlist strongly, with ex-Leinster Rugby Shane Horgan. Having spent 13 years at the side, he helped lead the charge for their first two Champions Cup titles, as well as finishing the 2004-05 season as top-scorer.
Another Leinster man to feature amongst our pundits’ selection is Isa Nacewa. The Fijian warrior was an integral part of all four of the Irish club’s Champions Cup winning exploits from 2009 and 2018, including captaining the side in the 2018 Final.
Another man to have developed his game in Ireland was ex-Munster Rugby star Doug Howlett. The New Zealander came to Europe to try out a new rugby and immediately hit the ground running to win the Champions Cup in his first season at the side.
Crossing over the Irish Sea to England, and a former record-breaker is the next to feature. Winger Chris Ashton formerly held the record for the number of tries scored in a single edition of the tournament (11), until Damian Penaud had anything to say about it this year. He also played in three Champions Cup finals, including a historic double with Saracens in 2016 and 2017.
Fellow English star wing to feature in the 10 is Josh Lewsey. The ex-Wasps man won both of the side’s Champions Cup titles during their golden spell.
On the other side of the Channel, the French sides has had its fair share of nominees.
Vincent Clerc was a Stade Toulousain wing warrior who contributed to three of the side’s six Champions Cup titles between 2002 and 2016, and fellow three-time Toulousain winner Cédric Heymans also makes the cut.
Heymans spent 10 years at the club, during which time he lifted EPCR’s coveted silverware on three occasions, as well as participating in a fourth final.
Fellow ex-Stade Toulousain winger Emile Ntamack features too, with his Champions Cup heritage of winning the maiden edition of the tournament shining strongly. He also played a part in two further final-run sides, including a win in 2003.
The final Toulousain to feature in the top 10 is South African Cheslin Kolbe. Having excelled at DHL Stormers, it was a move to Toulouse that brought with it new successes - a Champions Cup title in 2021.
He’s joined on the shortlist by fellow ex-Springbok Bryan Habana. The legendary South African winger was part of the impressive World Cup winning side in 2007, cementing his name as one of the legends.
