Tricky if you're English eh?

The English club loses, but an English icon wins. Jonny Wilkinson has dominated the headlines virtually since he first pulled on an England shirt at the age of 18, and 11 years after he helped write one of the great chapters of English sport, he's once again triumphed on the big stage.

Enjoy your birthday tomorrow Jonny. All together now: "For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fe-eh-low, and so say all of us."

Wales prop Adam Jones on Twitter: , externalI wonder if Jonny Wilkinson will kick off and strop if the Toulon team don't make a fuss about his birthday on Sunday!

(This tweet of course comes in the wake of Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure suggesting he was unhappy with the way English football's champions marked his birthday last week.)

On his future plans, Jonny Wilkinson says he is undecided what he will do after he retires from playing next week: "I'm waiting for my head to clear.

"I'd like to take a bit of time out. I want to see Toulon reach its potential. I have lived 17 years where every weekend your life hangs in the balance. I've now reached the time where I won't have to worry about what-ifs."

Image source, ADRIAN DENNIS

Jonny Wilkinson on Toulon's win: "As everyone knows the best laid plans go out of the window as soon as a match starts. But our discipline was good enough in defence and we didn't give away those easy penalties. We made it hard for them in set-piece. You play like there is no tomorrow. You play like it is everything you have got."

John Guy:, external Stuart Lancaster, it's never too late to call Armitage to England squad??

More from Jonny Wilkinson who tells Sky Sports that his mind is already turning to next week's French Top 14 final against Castres in Paris.

"That for me represents the end [last game in Britain]. It's the end of a long journey. My mind is already starting to tick towards that moment [against Castres]."

Northampton and Wales player George North: , externalCongratulations to Toulon. Such a class outfit!

Toulon and South Africa lock Bakkies Botha: "We definitely said to each other Saracens would look to get stuck in at the set-piece and dominate contact situations.

"The first 20 minutes was very physical but we kept our calm and stuck to our guns until the first try came from Matt Giteau, and from then on we just built our performance.

"It's two in a row now but we have a big, big match next weekend against Castres in Paris [in the French Top 14 final] but tonight we're just going to enjoy this."

Toulon's Pilou Pilou 'war cry' rings around the Millennium Stadium - a fittingly ferocious end to a ferocious content.

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Michael Steele

Toulon player and man of the match Steffon Armitage to BBC Radio 5 live: "We knew it was going to be really tough. Our work rate was the main factor. All the boys worked really hard and it's good to come away with a hard win."

Armitage, who will not be picked for England because he is playing his club rugby in France, adds: "I can't control that, the only thing I can control is what I do on the pitch. I'm trying to become a better rugby player myself."

Jonny Wilkinson goes up to receive his winner's medal and to prepare to lift the Heineken Cup.

Up it goes, with Jonny borne aloft by Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

Magnifique Jonny, chapeau.

Toulon captain Jonny Wilkinson on Sky Sports: "There's a lot of relief and excitement and sheer adulation. I will work it out a bit later and take it all in. But it was a privilege to be part of that game, this final."

Dan: , externalPerhaps Steffon Armitage should move back to England before the World Cup ready for selection. Absolutely dominant today.

Ayo Afolabi:, external Armitage is seven times the 7 Robshaw will EVER be... #Justsaying

Joshua Winwood:, external Armitage can scrummage - can he be in England squad as a hooker. Doesn't even need to be able to throw in - Youngs can't

Jennifer Cox:, external Congratulations to Toulon, a well deserved win and a great send off for @JonnyWilkinson.

Tayyib Abu: , externalAmazing performance from Toulon. Giteau and Wilkinson were brilliant as was Armitage. One of the best SPORTS sides I've seen

Karl Cobane:, external Never cheered on a French team in my life, but what a great way for #JonnyWilkinson to bow out #legend

Image source, GEOFF CADDICK

Toulon are back to back Heineken Cup champions, just the third team to achieve the feat after Leicester and Leinster, as their sheer power and class left Saracens ultimately impotent.

After a scrappy first half the French side stepped up a gear after the break to mark the end of the Heineken Cup in some style.

Today wasn't supposed to be all about Jonny, and his team have played superbly as a unit, but what a farewell to British soil.

Immaculate with the boot, a trademark drop-goal too as well as the usual unrelenting intensity, it's been vintage Wilko, and when his face is shown on the big screen as he sits on the Toulon bench, the roar is the biggest of the day.

Au revoir Jonny, it's been emotional.

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Jonny Wilkinson has certainly played well. His energy levels are the same as when I played with him 12 years ago. Incredible. He deserves all the plaudits the 60,000-plus inside the Millennium Stadium have given him and the millions watching around the world."

Image source, ADRIAN DENNIS

One last Toulon attack comes up just short, but we're just going through the motions now - the champions are going to retain their title.

And with the match in the bag, the French side withdraw Jonny Wilkinson in order to wrap him in cotton wool before the last match of his career in the French Top 14 final a week today.

Joshua Winwood:, external Seems Steffon Armitage could walk into any team in the world right now, but not a look in for England. Should get the chance in the squad.

Apaka Sakakibara:, external Gutted for Saracens but at the same time happy for Jonny Wilkinson. I'll never forget the summer of 2003. Thanks Jonny.

Steffon Armitage will not be picked for England because he is playing his club rugby in France. But he's dominated opposite number Billy Vunipola in defence today and he is the man of the match.

England boss Stuart Lancaster is in the crowd in Cardiff - care to reconsider the English-based players only rule Stu?