Tim Stimpson inspired Tigers’ nerve-racking semi-final success, kicking 14 points and creating a superb first-half try for centre Leon Lloyd.

But Leicester, who won the Premiership title in runaway fashion, were given a major fright as Gloucester fought for every scrap of possession and territory.

The Tigers had their captain, England skipper Martin Johnson, sin-binned following a 53rd-minute dust-up with Gloucester number eight Junior Paramore, who was also yellow-carded, and then survived a torrid spell of Gloucester pressure in injury time.

Gloucester managed to steal lineout ball on a Leicester throw just five metres from the Tigers’ line, but they could not capitalise and scrum-half Austin Healey’s 40-metre clearance to touch proved significant.

Gloucester, whose build-up had been overshadowed by speculation surrounding the Kingsholm futures of star players like Jason Little and Ian Jones, relished their underdog status.

Both Little and Jones, southern hemisphere giants of the game, produced block-busting displays, yet in the end, five Simon Mannix penalties proved agonisingly insufficient.

Leicester dug deep into their seemingly limitless resources of spirit and commitment to prevail, securing a victory which keeps alive their bid for an unprecedented trophy treble of Heineken Cup, Premiership title and domestic play-off glory.

Leicester will be hell-bent on erasing memories of their previous Heineken Cup final appearance when they were out-classed by French club Brive in Cardiff four years ago, losing 28-9.

But even though Stade will effectively be on home soil in four weeks’ time, Leicester possess sufficient experience and match-winning pedigree to bring home the silverware.

Gloucester, in their debut season of top-level European rugby, gave their travelling army of supporters plenty to shout about in a five-figure crowd.

They looked to be down and out at half-time, trailing 16-9. They took the second half spoils 6-3, yet just lacked vital poise and purpose when in sight of the Leicester line.