By Jim Stokes BBC Sport at Lansdowne Road

Toulouse have waited seven long years for a second success Photos from Lansdowne Road

Toulouse's seven-year itch was finally scratched on Saturday when they joined Leicester as the only double winners of European rugby's grand prize.

The French aristocrats scratched out a 22-17 victory in le crunch against a brave Perpignan side at a windy, but noisy and colourful Lansdowne Road.

After six seasons of mellow fruitlessness, Stade Toulousain achieved their dream in Europe for the first time since they took the inaugural honours back in 1996.

The old creaking stadium was unusual in that the Heineken Cup organisers had managed to pack the East Stand and terraces to the rafters with the majority of the 28,000 crowd.

However, the West Stand was like the Pyrenees on a wet Sunday with the northerly wind whistling through the empty seats.

Affable Dubliner Trevor Brennan began what turned out to be an emotional day when he was given the honour of leading out his adopted Toulouse side, perhaps hoping to ingratiate themselves with the locals who had ventured in from their normal Saturday domestic chores.

The Catalans at least rediscovered their warrior spirit with great gusto at the start of the second half

The game itself rarely rose to the heights expected. It was not the French fare everyone had hoped for, with that wind being a dominant factor.

But it was tense when Perpignan finally shrugged off their lethargy in the second half.

The first half was pretty laborious, with Toulouse constantly on the attack and Perpignan taking 13 minutes to get inside their opponents' half with the strong breeze in their faces.

There were some massive hits being exchanged, with the pumped-up Brennan doing most of the damage.

However, it was English referee Chris White who suffered most and brought about the only sliver of real excitement in that opening period.

Trying to outpace Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc in a kick and chase, the former Cheltenham schoolteacher pulled a hamstring and was replaced by touch judge Tony Spreadbury.

Match report: Perpignan 17-22 Toulouse

But Perpignan just could not get going, and spurned possession continually, enabling Toulouse to be virtually out of sight after the first 40 minutes.

Perpignan had been expected to give the Toulouse pack a hard time with their pick and drive, but it was like trying to pierce granite.

And it was the piano movers of Toulouse who showed the greater machismo on the day, allowing their piano players to do what they do best at the business end.

The Catalans at least rediscovered their warrior spirit with great gusto at the start of the second half as Manny Edmonds knocked over an early penalty.

Perpignan continued to close in on Toulouse as the gathering clouds finally shed their load, and at least had the consolation of the game's final try, Edmonds conceiving a dainty kick for Pascal Bomati to score in the corner in the last move of the match.