1999/00

Toulouse welcomed Munster to Bordeaux at the semi-final stage of the 1999/00 competition hoping to earn their second European title.

However, it was their Irish counterparts who secured their first Heineken Cup final berth with a 31-25 triumph with Ronan O’Gara, Jason Holland and John Hayes firmly putting the Munster name on the European map.

2002/03

The French side had the opportunity to avenge the above defeat three years later when they once again hosted the Irish province in the last four of the competition, and duly delivered in a stunning contest.

Toulouse’s legendary scrum-half Frédéric Michalak was the difference-maker for the French outfit, rumbling over for the only try of the afternoon eight minutes from time to setup an all-French final against Perpignan.

2007/08

Five years later the two sides met once again, this time in the Heineken Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of 74,417 people.

No.8 Denis Leamy broke the try-scoring deadlock near the end of the first half before Toulouse wing Yves Donguy levelled proceedings at 13-13 early in the second half. O’Gara was the match-winner for the Irish province – his 65th minute penalty clinching a second European crown for Munster.

2013/14

Munster romped to victory in the 2014 quarter-final meeting between the two sides, with the Irish outfit notching six tries in their 47-23 defeat of their French opponents.

Keith Earls touched down in a tense first period that ended 13-9 to the hosting Irishmen, but a second half onslaught of tries from Dave Kilcoyne, CJ Stander, Casey Laulala, Simon Zebo and Paul O’Connell secured Munster a last four berth.

2016/17

Another quarter final meeting three years later produced a similar scoreline as Munster scored 41 points once again in another emphatic triumph.

Stunningly enough, the score was once again 13-9 to Munster at the break – John Ryan with the early try on this occasion. Stander, Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway crossed the whitewash with fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal tallying 21 points from his boot.

Munster Rugby and Toulouse will renew their European rivalry when the two square off in the Last 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup on April 3. We look back at the five times the sides have met in the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition, including the thrilling 2007/2008 final.