The date was April 1, 2006 and the venue Le Stadium in Toulouse. Until then, the Irish province had never won a Heineken Cup knockout game on foreign turf - but that all changed as Leinster claimed a 76-point spectacular 41-35, with Hickie one of their four try-scorers.

They lost the semi-final 30-6 to arch-rivals Munster Rugby, but when Leinster reached the last four again in 2009, they went on to win the first of their record-equalling four European Cups.

“I think what it proved to Leinster was that we could win on the road in France in a knockout competition – which we may be take a little bit more for granted in 2020 than we did in 2006,” the 44-year-old Irish international told the Champions Rugby Show.

“It was the first time we’d won against a big club away and it gave the club huge confidence.

“There was a huge crowd who went along and I still have people coming up to me today saying they were at that game and it was one of the best occasions they’d ever been to.”

Hickie, who scored 19 tries in 54 Heineken Cup appearances for Leinster between 1996 and 2007, is now thrilled to be a supporter of a team with five European titles to their name – four in the senior tournament and one in the Challenge Cup.

“What I enjoy most is the association with a team who consistently turn up and deliver in those big games,” said the 62-Test wing.

“When Leinster get to the knockout stages of a tournament, they are always going to be there or thereabouts.

“There is an expectation not just based on reputation or titles. It’s based on the level of performance that Leinster will deliver in these big games. So, it’s great to be a supporter of a team who turn up for those games.”

Denis Hickie believes he participated in the start of the transformation of Leinster Rugby - from one of European rugby’s also-rans into a great Heineken Champions Cup outfit.