Thomas looked on as his team, under the instructions of coach Dai Young, beat Toulon 28-21 in Marseille on Sunday, coming back from 16-13 down at half-time to do so.

Cardiff’s win ended Wales’ 15-year wait for European success and Thomas admits they are already looking forward to next season.

He said: “All credit to the boys. Whenever you come away and play in France you know it's going to be hard and they were up for it and the victory was well deserved.

“It's all about stepping stones and the last five years has been progression.

“To be nominated now and seeded in the top six [for next season's Heineken Cup] is recognition of the hard work.

“Every year the bar will go up, every year our recruitment policy must be to improve, not only conditions but also our training and our whole approach to the game and the squad.

“But these guys are tight together. They're loyal, they play for each other, they play for their fans, for the coaches and they showed that spirit.

“This is the first European Cup that has ever come to Wales and I can't tell you how proud I am that Cardiff Blues - for the whole region - are delivering it home to Wales.”