Frederic Michalak has failed in his bid to become only the fourth player in history to win the Heineken Cup and a Super Rugby title.
The former Toulouse out-half cum scrum-half, who has two Heineken Cup winner's medals with the famed French club from 2003 and 2005, was on the losing side as the Sharks were comprehensively defeated 37-6 by the Chiefs in the Super 15 decider in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Michalak - the first French player to appear in a Super Rugby final - was attempting to join Rod Kafer (ACT Brumbies 2001 and Leicester Tigers 2002), Doug Howlett (Auckland Blues 2003 and Munster Rugby 2008) and Brad Thorn (Canterbury Crusaders 2008 and Leinster Rugby 2012) as the only players to have won the coveted Heineken Cup and Super Rugby double.
Michalak will now return to France and a new contract with big-spending Toulon who will feature in Pool 6 of the 2012/13 Heineken Cup with the Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks and Montpellier.
