1995/96: Toulouse 21 Cardiff 18 (after extra time)

Their first encounter was in the maiden final of EPCR’s elite competition – and what a match it was, with the French side triumphing thanks to two extra-time penalties from Christophe Deylaud in front of 21,800 at Wales’ National Stadium.

Toulouse looked as though they were going to cruise to victory as they notched two tries in the first 10 minutes via Thomas Castaignède and Jérôme Cazalbou, with Deylaud converting one to put the French team 12-0 ahead.

However, Cardiff stormed back in the second half, with Toulouse’s sole score being a Castaignède drop-goal, although the Welsh team had to rely on the boot of Adrian Davies to level matters at 15-15 after 80 minutes through five penalties, his fifth coming on the stroke of full time.

Davies then cancelled out Deylaud’s first extra-time penalty, but the Toulouse back’s second came in the last moments of the additional period, leaving Cardiff no time to reply.

2007/08: Toulouse 41 Cardiff Blues 17

In contrast, it was largely one-way traffic in Cardiff’s second Champions Cup knockout meeting with Toulouse, who ended Welsh hopes in the competition with a crushing quarter-final victory at the French club’s Le Stadium.

Cardiff handed a try to Maxime Médard in the first minute and were on the back foot thereafter, although a Jason Spice try later in the half converted by Ben Blair, who also kicked a penalty, did reduce the interval deficit to 16-10.

However, Toulouse ran away with the tie after the break, with Maleli Kunavore, Vincent Clerc and Jean Bouilhou all scoring tries, Jean-Baptiste Élissalde boosting his points tally to 18 through his kicking and Cédric Heymans dropping a goal. Blair scored a consolation try which he goaled.

2008/09: Cardiff Blues 9 Toulouse 6

Cardiff gained some measure of revenge 12 months later at the Millennium Stadium by knocking the three-times winners out of the competition in a nail-biting quarter-final in front of a record Welsh club attendance of 36,728.

Ben Blair was their hero in a try-less encounter, with the New Zealander kicking two penalties in the first half and a third in the second period.

Toulouse's points also came from penalties, with Frédéric Michalak landing one and his second-half replacement, David Skrela, the other.

Cardiff Rugby and Stade Toulousain have been frequent opponents in the Champions Cup over the years, but three of their past meetings stick out, since they have been in the knockout stages.