By Gareth Thomas Wales captain and record try scorer

Finally, I'm going to get a chance to play in a cup final!

In all my years playing rugby - at any level - I've never managed to reach a final.

Thomas created Toulouse's final try in the win over Leicester

I've been lucky enough to win the league with Bridgend and Cardiff, but a cup final has always eluded me.

But that's all changed now thanks to Toulouse's Heineken Cup semi-final win over Leicester.

And what a massive final to be involved in.

I've played in a few big group games in the European Cup, but the knockout stages are something very special.

It's crazy when you get to the quarters and semis. They're one-off games and are probably on a par with international rugby because it's all about who wins on the day.

All the build-up and the final itself against Stade Francais will be even more intense, I'm sure.

I was desperate to get back into action after being forced to watch from the sidelines for the past seven weeks because of a broken thumb.

It was a nervous week, because I wasn't sure if I would make the squad.

Just making the replacements' bench was great, so getting 15 minutes or so at the end of the game was a massive bonus.

I felt no ill effects with the thumb either. I was actually running around looking for someone to give a good clip to so I could test it!

Missing the start of the Lions tour definitely won't benefit me Wales duo could miss Lions flight

We enjoyed the celebrations after the win, but it was straight back down to earth and on to the training field the next morning.

We've still got so many big league games left this season, so any thoughts of the final have been put to one side.

We've got Stade Francais next weekend - which now turns out to be a dress rehearsal for the Heineken Cup final.

The late finish to the French club season means I probably won't play in the Lions match against Argentina, and I probably won't be on the plane to New Zealand when the squad leaves on 25 May.

I met the rest of the Lions squad and management for the first time last Monday.

There were a lot of people there that I've got massive respect for. It was a massive honour to be in their company and the get-together was a very useful ice breaker.

I met Sir Clive Woodward and we had a very constructive chat about my situation at Toulouse.

He came across as a great bloke and understands the needs and demands of professional rugby.

He understands that myself and Stephen Jones at Clermont Auvergne have roles to play at our clubs.

Come August, we have to come back here to France and live our lives, so he doesn't want to do anything to jeopardise that.

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He's willing to have a bit of give-and-take on the situation. That was a massive relief because we don't want to get into any kind of battle with our clubs.

So for Sir Clive to realise what we're going through and to want to find a compromise is superb.

As far as I know, the discussions over my actual release date to join the Lions are still going on, but I don't think there will be any major problems.

Missing the start of the tour definitely won't benefit us. So when we do get out there and play, we've got to prove that we're worthy of being selected for the Test team.

Of course, the later we get out to New Zealand the fewer opportunities we'll got to show what we can do.

But all that seems a long way away right now. It's back to league business on the weekend and hopefully I'll soon be picking up my first ever cup winner's medal.