The French club were the first European club champions in 1996 and went on to repeat their success in 2003, 2005 and 2010.

“We’ve got a major history in this competition,” commented Mola. “Alongside Leinster [Rugby] we’re the competition’s most decorated club, although Saracens are rapidly making up ground on us.

“It’s in our interests to put our all into this competition, so that there are no regrets. At Stade Toulousain we’re keen to perform well or, indeed, very well in this competition.”

The 46-year-old former France wing remembers that 1996 triumph well, as he came on as a second-half replacement in Toulouse’s 21-18 extra-time success over Cardiff in the Welsh capital.

“I was lucky enough to belong to the generation that won the first one, which was an incredible memory,” he recalled. “It made its mark on that whole generation and the quality of that generation.

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“Although there were some strange aspects to it, we began by playing away at [RCJ Farul] Constanța and then [Benetton Rugby] Treviso. That, in itself, meant that it was a true sporting experience and we ended up beating Cardiff, who were that era’s Cardiff Blues.”

A French club hasn’t won the trophy since 2015, although Racing 92 have reached the final twice and ASM Clermont Auvergne once, while Toulouse made the semi-finals last season.

“I don’t think that you become European champions in a single season; it’s a long building process during which you have to get your players and generations of players used to the competition and to competing at a really high level,” Mola remarked.

“Leinster and Saracens are examples of teams who’ve overcome stages over the course of the years with a group and a generation of players, and they managed to lift the trophy at that time.

“Looking at ourselves, we’re still a work in progress; we’ve got young players in key positions who have experience of having played at the World Cup. They experienced a European campaign last year and this is their second taste of it.

“I hope that this generation of players will be capable of winning it, but for now we’re still a work in progress on the European stage.”

Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola has vowed to “put our all” into this season’s Heineken Champions Cup as the four-time winners bid to build on their famous past in the competition.