Toulouse claimed their fourth-consecutive title when they beat Montpellier 28-20 in the Top 14 final in Paris on Saturday.
Toulouse were expected to dominate the French domestic final, with Montpellier starting the match as 4.50 underdogs.
The reigning champs were on fire in the first half, with hooker Peato Mauvaka scoring two tries and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont also crossing the line. Romain Ntamack slotted two conversions and two penalties to stretch his team's lead to 26-5 at half-time.
At that stage, Toulouse appeared to be on course for a winning margin in excess of 13 points. But Montpellier hit back with a converted try right after the break, and Toulouse suffered a further setback after winger Matthis Lebel was shown a yellow card.
On the hour, the players were forced from the field due to lightning in the area around the Stade de France. The 12-minute break allowed Toulouse to regroup, and they were far more accurate in the final quarter of the decider.
While Toulouse hung on to secure a 28-20 victory, Montpellier scored a converted try through replacement scrumhalf Leo Coly – and ultimately finished the contest within the +13 handicap (1.85).
The result marks Toulouse's fourth-consecutive Top 14 win in as many seasons, and their fifth French title in the space of six years. Ugo Mola's side became only the third team in history to retain the Bouclier de Brennus for four straight seasons.
International Action And World Rugby Junior Championship
Elsewhere, Wales edged the Barbarians 33-31 in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Junior Springboks started their World Rugby Junior World Championship title defence with a 104-7 victory in Tbilisi. Flanker Risima Khosa and winger Jordan Steenkamp scored hat-tricks for South Africa in the 16-try rout.
The Junior Boks will face hosts Georgia on Thursday, before tackling Wales in their final pool match next week.
Nations Championship Kick-Off
The Test season gets underway this coming weekend, with six Nations Championship fixtures scheduled for Saturday.
The opening round of the new tournament sees New Zealand facing France in Christchurch, Japan battling Italy in Tokyo, and Australia taking on Ireland in Sydney.
The Springboks begin their Test campaign with a showdown against England in Johannesburg, while Fiji face Wales in Cardiff, and Argentina tackle Scotland in Cordoba.
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