A late try by Aussie Karmichael Hunt proved to be in vain, as Toulouse beat Biarritz 21-19 to win the European rugby cup final in Paris on Saturday.

The former Brisbane Broncos' and Queensland fullback, who will play AFL for the Gold Coast next year, crossed in the 73rd minute for Biarritz for the only try of the game, but a David Skrela-inspired Toulouse held on to win a record fourth title.

Five-eighth Skrela, often the target for much criticism in the French press, booted three penalties and two drop-goals, and masterminded Toulouse's mean midfield defence and probing flat-ball attacks.

Florian Fritz also scored a long-range penalty and a drop-goal for Toulouse, while scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili kicked four penalties for Biarritz.

Toulouse have been the most consistent team in European rugby in the 15 years since the continent's showpiece tournament was launched, previously winning three times (1996, 2003, 2005) and twice being losing finalists (2004, 2008).

And they made it show at a packed Stade de France, their forwards dominating the much-vaunted Biarritz scrum while their backs - until seven minutes to play - gave nothing away in defence.

Biarritz, who failed to even make it to the Top 14 play-offs, so patchy has their domestic form been, looked leaden-footed for much of the match, the likes of outstanding France No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy largely anonymous.

And it was only in the closing quarter when they brought the likes of Hunt and American winger Takudzwa Ngwenya into action that they looked like scoring.

The game opened at an electric pace, Toulouse almost scoring after a Skrela pass found captain Thierry Dusautoir in space.

But that rhythm was not to remain for long, as a painful slugfest took shape between the forwards and the mean-fisted defences.

Yachvili kicked two early penalties and after a Skrela miss, Fritz got Toulouse's account ticking in the 22nd minute with a 55-metre penalty after Harinordoquy went high on Vincent Clerc.

Yachvili kicked a third penalty after Fritz took out Iain Balshaw but Skrela responded with the same after the Biarritz scrum folded.

In a rare glimpse of a spark at the Stade de France, Fritz found a hole and off-loaded to Maxime Medard who was well tracked by Balshaw.

Hooker Benoit August then rushed his defence to make a crucial hit and force Yannick Jauzion to knock on.

Biarritz, however, infringed from the restart for Skrela to kick his second penalty and Fritz added a snap drop-goal just before half-time, as Toulouse ramped up their territorial advantage.

Toulouse opened the second-half with glimpses of their traditional attacking verve, but they failed to make several phases of fine possession count when Medard fumbled a long pass with a simple two-on-one ahead of him.

August then latched onto a loose line-out ball, kicked ahead and outpaced Patricio Albacete, leaving the Argentinian lock no choice but to haul the hooker down.

Albacete was shown a straight yellow card by English referee Wayne Barnes and, to compound matters for Toulouse, Yachvili kicked his fourth penalty to draw the sides level again.

Skrela edged Toulouse ahead just two minutes later with a well-taken drop-goal, and added his second with 20 minutes to play.

When Clerc was brought down close to the Biarritz line and a hand was spotted in the ruck, Skrela was on hand to boot his third penalty.

The match was brought to life when Hunt crossed under the posts after being laid off by Ngwenya.

Valentin Courrent kicked the conversion but Toulouse held on to be named European champions for a fourth time.

Hunt raved about his seven-month stint in the south of France following the match but was sore that he couldn't help bring Biarritz its first European Cup trophy.

"It was special (to score), it would have been more special if we had won but it was not the case," he told AAP.

"In Australia when you play sport, the supporters get behind you but here, from what I have experienced, it is a lot more passionate."

Hunt said he had been surprised by how much he had enjoyed his time in Europe after quitting rugby league at the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the 2009 season.

"It is a crazy adventure but one that I am happy to be on," he said.

"I am so lucky to be part of such a great side and to get the opportunity was a blessing.

"I must admit I did not know too much about the place, I was aware of France but it was such a beautiful spot down there and a dream come true."

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