The French giants have won Europe’s elite tournament on four occasions, but it has now been a decade since their last victory in 2010.

South African Elstadt admitted there is an added pressure on Toulouse because they have such a successful history in the Heineken Champions Cup.

“Yes, definitely, for sure [there’s a sense of pressure],” he explained.

“I think it was the same with the Top 14 - they haven’t won it since 2012 and you could have felt the pressure from the outside.

“Same for the European Cup, they haven’t won it for a very long time - I think it’s kind of due, for the team to win it sometime soon again.”

Toulouse’s opening game of their Heineken Champions Cup campaign this year will see them travel to 1999 winners Ulster, in a re-run of last season’s quarter final that saw the French side win 36-8.

“Ulster’s got a really good home record, same for us,” Elstadt pointed out.

“I guess it is early days as well for both sides, in [that we are] playing rugby again after a very long time off.

playing rugby again after a very long time off.

“I reckon they were a bit scrappy – same as us. We managed to win that one [last season], but we had a bit of a home advantage.”

Elstadt warned that despite his side’s resounding victory last season, Ulster will provide a stern test in Pool B.

“Ulster is a much different team compared to what they were earlier in the year, or earlier in the season,” he insisted.

“I think it’s going to be a really tough one, but, like I say, at the end of the day, it is whoever wants it the most and prepares the best that will probably win it.”

Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola was also full of praise for Ulster – and he too highlighted their impressive form at the Kingspan Stadium.

“They are an opponent we know well because we’ve been studying them for a long time.

“So yes, [a team] which are always hard to handle on their turf. Very few teams manage to win in Ulster.”

Toulouse forward Rynhardt Elstadt believes the French club are due a Heineken Champions Cup crown ahead of the opening weekend of this year’s competition.