How does one measure greatness? It is a conundrum that has been deliberated over by scores of historians, philosophers and Year Nine English exam essayists, each forming their own view. One can be great in size, stature or office but not necessarily in deed; conversely, even the most trifling act can take on greater meaning. Greatness can be in the eye of the beholder – a difference of definition of the term is the bedrock of many a great debate.
Let us narrow the parameters, then, and consider only sport; in fact, a smaller sample still and great English club rugby union sides. That, surely, is simpler to define: domestic dominance allied to at least one continental crown. A scan down the list of Investec Champions Cup winners and three teams stand out: Leicester’s snarling Tigers at the turn of the century; the Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards-led Wasps of 2003-04; the Saracens of a decade ago.
