The second-place finish in the league did secure Tigers place in the second season of the Heineken Cup, the English clubs were not involved in the first season. Leicester's Heineken Cup debut was against Leinster at Donnybrook. Leicester beat Leinster, Scottish Borders, Pau and Llanelli in the group stage before beating Harlequins (quarter finals) and Toulouse (semi finals) to set up the final against Brive. The match was close at half time; Leicester were behind 8–6, but the French side ran riot in the second half to win 28–9. Tigers faltered in the league but did secure silverware, beating Sale 9–3 in the 1997 Pilkington Cup Final. That summer Martin Johnson was named as captain of the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa; Eric Miller, Graham Rowntree, Neil Back, Austin Healey and Will Greenwood were also named as tourists.