Inspired by Fabien Galthie who scored their opening try and out-half Diego Dominguez, who scored 19 points, Stade Francais defeated Toulouse, 32-18, on Saturday at the Stade de France in Paris to win the French Championship title. And in doing so the Paris club return to the Heineken Cup next season where they will be in the same group as Ulster, Leicester Tigers and Gwent (Ebbw/Newport).

If there is to be any consolation for Saturdy's beaten finalists, Toulouse, it comes in the fact they are now in possibly the easiest Pool in next year's Heineken Cup. They'll compete against Leeds Tykes, Neath/ Swansea region, and Edinburgh Rugby and must already rank as favourites to retain their crown.

Stade return to the premier European competition having competed this year in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup where they lost at the quarter-final stage to eventual winner London Wasps on an aggregate score of 62-34.