Leinster's first ever Heineken Cup success – achieved by beating an English team in Scotland – confirmed that this was Ireland's year.

However dire the economic picture in the Emerald Isle, when it comes to rugby, Irish eyes are smiling.

Leinster's European title, coming on top of a first Ireland Grand Slam in the Six Nations since 1948 and the appointment of Paul O'Connell as captain of the Lions completed a remarkable hat-trick. Add in the achievements of Munster- victory in the Magner's League in 2009 after two Heineken Cup titles in the three previous years, eight players in the original Lions selection – and Brian O'Driscoll- the outstanding player in the Six Nations', and one of a record 14 Irishmen in the Lions' tour party – and the conclusion is inescapable; Irish rugby is enjoying a golden age.

And it's not so bad in Wales either. Their 2008 Grand Slam was the second in four years, while Cardiff's annihilation of Gloucester in the EDF Energy Cup Final kept the Anglo-Welsh trophy in Wales for the third successive year, and the Blues – denied a place in the Heineken Final only after losing a penalty shoot-out- won as many matches in that competition as Leinster, and lost fewer.

There are signs of improvement in Scotland, too. The national team may have disappointed – and cost coach Frank Hadden his job – but the regions did well in Europe, with Glasgow's astonishing away win in Toulouse one of the outstanding team performances of the season, and Edinburgh improving all the team under former England coach Andy Robinson.

The Celts it seems are punching far above their rugby weight, particularly in comparison with England and France, countries with much bigger rugby-playing populations, longer-established and better-supported club competitions, larger television audiences and wealthier sponsors. Both disappointed in the Six Nations'- England only achieving some respectability by winning their three home matches - while between them they produced just one semi-finalist in the Heineken Cup, a competition they had won 10 out of 13 times previously, while never failing to produce at least one finalist.

It may be significant that England and France are the only two major rugby-playing nations in the world where the club game is king. The best players in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, gravitate towards the Super 14 franchises and sign up to what, in effect, are central contracts.

The best players in Ireland, Wales and Scotland are employed on a similar basis and it's hard to argue that the improvement in their fortunes at both regional and national level is just a coincidence. Their national unions can not only establish priorities, but enforce them. The Six Nations is at the top of the playing pyramid and the unions have the power to ensure that their top players enter it in the best shape – even, as the SRU dictated to Edinburgh in January, to the extent of insisting that they sit out matches in the Heineken Cup. That competition is next in importance, with the Magners League - from which all three unions are happy to pick and choose matches for their international players - a distant third. That sort of control has always been envied by England – indeed it was the chief bone of contention between Sir Clive Woodward and the Premiership clubs as well as the main reason why he quit as England's coach- and the agreement reached last summer was designed to give the national coaches far greater access to, and control over, their top players. Time will tell on that one.

The French though, have always been a law unto themselves. Their club game has been vibrant, vital and profitable for a lot longer than its English equivalent and, even before next season's invasion by English players, has a proven track record in attracting big names, big crowds and big sponsors. It's a stand-alone business. Like the football premiership in England, and unlike it's rugby equivalent in Ireland, Wales and Scotland, it is not reliant on the national governing body. Despite a disappointing Rugby World Cup 18 months ago, a lacklustre Six Nations and an arid Heineken Cup, it can point to the millionaires queuing up to pour money into clubs like Toulon and Racing Metro of Paris, the millions queuing up to attend Top 14 matches, the hundreds of millions pouring into the club coffers from broadcasting companies.

The English can get hot under the collar about the triumph of the Celts, about foreign imports and player exodus. The most you'll get from the French is a Gallic shrug. They're all right, Jaques.