London Wasps were no strangers to cup finals in the amateur era, but it was when the game went professional that Wasps gained the reputation as knockout kings.

Blessed with a squad full of internationals and an inspirational leader in British Lion Lawrence Dallaglio, Wasps, along with Leicester Tigers, have been the leading English club of the past decade.

Wasps became the first English champions of the professional era when they won the League in 1996-97 and they went on to win the Tetley Bitter Cup in 1999 and 2000.

However, it was when Warren Gatland replaced Nigel Melville as director of rugby that the club truly transformed into one of the finest sides in Europe.

In 2002-03 Wasps won the Premiership, by beating Gloucester in the play-off final, and the European Challenge Cup.

The 2003-04 season was to be even more successful as the club won the Heineken Cup and retained their Premiership title by beating Bath in the play-off final.

Another Premiership title was attained in 2004-05 as head coach Warren Gatland signed off in style before returning to New Zealand.

Ian McGeechan became director of rugby in 2005-06 and won the Powergen Cup in his first season, while in 2007 Wasps reached another Heineken Cup final, beating favourites Leicester at Twickenham to lift the trophy for the second time in their history.

Wasps won the Premiership again in 2007-08 as they beat Leicester in the play-off final in what was the retiring Dallaglio's last game for the club.