Lawrence Dallaglio led Wasps to a 26-10 Powergen Cup final victory over the Llanelli Scarlets at Twickenham and then declared: ``We showed what champions are about today.''
Wasps won their fifth consecutive Twickenham final 26-10 with two tries from Tom Voyce, 13 points from Mark Van Gisbergen and an Alex King drop goal.
The English champions were far from their fluent best, but Llanelli could not take advantage despite taking an early lead after a superb finish from Barry Davies.
Dallaglio admitted Wasps' record in Twickenham finals - they have secured three Premiership titles and the Heineken Cup at English rugby's HQ over the last three seasons - was a major factor.
And he urged Wasps to use their victory as a springboard towards a successful Guinness Premiership title defence.
``Wasps is the right place to be to win trophies,'' he said.
``The previous finals helped us. We were far from our best but we showed what champions are about today.
``When you start the season there are only three trophies available so to win one is very pleasing. We are in the Heineken Cup and have a trophy in the cabinet.
``We have a real chance in the next six weeks to up our game and come back here at end of May in the Premiership final.
``That is the motivation - to try and retain the trophy we have won for the last three years.''
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan has enjoyed tremendous success at international level with the Lions, but this was his first trophy success at club level.
McGeechan joined Wasps in the summer, when he replaced Warren Gatland after the New Zealander had led the club to three Premiership titles and the Heineken Cup.
``There was a huge legacy here and I am delighted to become a part of it,'' said McGeechan.
``And it is a great feeling. This is the first club trophy I have ever won and it is a bit special. I knew that when I woke up this morning because I was pretty nervous.
``It's good to be part of such a special atmosphere. Winning a trophy has been very important to all of us.''
Voyce had set himself the target of scoring two tries in memory of his grandfather, who died a year ago today.
And once Johnny O'Connor had been stretchered off with a neck injury after just 48 seconds Wasps were determined to win the trophy for their Irish flanker.
Voyce said: ``If I don't score I think I've had a bad game and my hunger and desire to get across the whitewash today was quite high. My grandfather died a year ago today and I wanted to put a performance in.
``In the huddle before the match Johnny spoke about his wishes to win a final because he had never done it before.
``It was just so disappointing for him. Eoin Reddan said he must be the unluckiest player around, so we had to go out and do it for him.''
Injuries overshadowed the first half, with Simon Easterby carried off unconscious after smashing his head into the shoulder of Wasps full-back Mark Van Gisbergen.
Easterby had swallowed his tongue - Llanelli winger Mark Jones put him in the recovery position before paramedics got to the scene - but recovered to watch the second half from the bench.
At that stage Llanelli led 10-3 but Wasps used the opportunity to regroup and drew level at the interval after Jeremy Staunton picked off a pass from Clive Stuart-Smith and sent Voyce under the posts.
Dallaglio said: ``You don't like to see players stretchered off at all and we hope both players come through without any problems.
''But injuries are part of the game and Simon's injury gave us time to think about what we were doing.''
Llanelli were left to rue a number of missed opportunities in the first half and could feel the game slipping away after the interval as the rain lashed down and Wasps took a stranglehold on proceedings.
``It was a lost opportunity. There were 17 points in that first half for us, and we ended up going in 10-10 at half-time,'' said director of rugby Gareth Jenkins.
``Wasps scored a good try at the beginning of the second half, and the weather then became a major factor. It was nearly impossible to play `catch-up' rugby.
``They turned the screw and in the end they deserved to win. But if we had scored 17 points in that first half I wonder whether Wasps could have played `catch-up' rugby more effectively than us.''