Wasps loss spurs Pelous as historic treble beckons

FABIEN PELOUS could become the first player to captain a team to a hat-trick of Heineken Cup final triumphs — but so far his most cherished memory of Europe’s premier club rugby tournament is when Toulouse had the trophy snatched from their grasp by London Wasps in the 2004 Twickenham thriller.

Pelous was at the helm when Toulouse lifted the coveted trophy in Dublin in 2003 and Edinburgh in 2005 and now the clash with Munster at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday presents the former French captain with the opportunity to go one better than Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio managed with Leicester Tigers and London Wasps respectively.

“Bizarrely, I would say that my best memory is the final we lost against London Wasps at Twickenham in 2004 because it was an extraordinary game,” said the lock who has made 74 Heineken Cup appearances.