Reihana lifted the European Challenge Cup after a bruising match

Northampton Saints captain Bruce Reihana has hailed Friday's European Challenge Cup final victory over Bourgoin at The Stoop a "dream" result.

Saints beat the French club 15-3 in a fierce encounter to book their place in the Heineken Cup next season.

"It was awesome. We'd been dreaming about this for a long, long time," Reihana told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I must admit I didn't sleep too well last week - I couldn't take my mind off the game," the All Black, 33, added.

"A lot of hard work has gone into this - both from the players and the management.

As a team we showed throughout the year that we had what it took to beat the top sides Northampton captain Bruce Reihana

"It's been a long season and we put in a lot of effort to achieve this," he continued.

Reihana declined to be drawn on the physical nature of the match which culminated in Bourgoin replacement Thomas Genevois being sent off for landing a punch on Courtney Lawes.

"We knew it was going to be tough. It got a little bit scrappy at times but that's rugby," he said.

"As a team we showed throughout the year that we had what it took to beat the top sides. We just need to become a lot more consistent.

"But we got better and better as the season went on."

Northampton's victory means a return to the top-flight European competition which they won in 2000.

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