Hello and welcome along to our coverage of the Challenge Cup final as Ulster take on Montpellier.
This could be a great night for Ulster who won the Heineken Cup in 1999, and the Celtic League in 2006. Richie Murphy’s side will contest this final for the first time this evening against a team who have won this competition twice.
If you’re attending the game this evening, or just want to get involved in the coverage, do leave a comment below and enjoy the updates as they happen.
We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few minutes as we gear up for the 8pm kick-off in Bilbao.
3 hrs ago
7:09PM
The big news for Ulster is that Robert Baloucoune will make his first start for the province since getting injured against Scotland in March.
As expected, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and Rob Herring are all sidelined, with Iain Henderson missing out through suspension. Werner Kok also misses out on his final game for Ulster.
Montpellier's Billy Vunipola and Ulster's Nick Timoney and referee Matthew Carley at the coin toss. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
A view of the Ulster dressing room. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Ulster fans in Bilbao. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
A Montpellier fan. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
2 hrs ago
7:59PM
As Leinster prepare for the Champions Cup final tomorrow against Bordeaux-Begles, can Ulster get the weekend off to a winning start for Irish provinces this evening?
Call it here!
Poll Results:
Ulster win (22)
Montpellier win (21)
2 hrs ago
7:59PM
The teams are out on the field now and it is sweltering in the stadium.
That’s a big blow for Ulster. An overthrow from their lineout puts them under pressure and Donovan Taofifenua completes the move as he collects the pass out wide and dives over.
Domingo Miotti adds the extras.
1 hr ago
8:28PM
25 mins: Ulster 7-14 Montpellier
Penalty for Montpellier as Ulster fail to get their set-up right in the scrum. The referee issued a warning and reset the scrum but punished them on the second whistle and Montpellier will get the clearance out.
1 hr ago
8:31PM
27 mins: Ulster 7-14 Montpellier
Billy Vunipola moving a bit gingerly after taking some hits and is down receiving treatment. There’s a break in play while that takes place and the players desperately need to take on water in that heat.
Montpellier are really motoring now. Alex Becognee forces his way over from a lineout maul, and for the first time tonight, Domingo Miotti misses a conversion kick.
Ulster tried to create one more attack before the break but are turned over as the referee awards a penalty to Montpellier which they kick to touch to see out the half.
It’s been a tough outing so far for Richie Murphy’s side. After that brilliant start when Nick Timoney went over, they conceded almost straight away through Gabriel N’Gandebe.
Donovan Taofifenua then put the French side in front before Cormac Izuchukwu responded to cut the deficit to two.
But Billy Vunipola and Alex Becognee added two more tries for Montpellier to firmly put Montpellier in control at the break.
1 hr ago
8:53PM
Cormac Izuchukwu charges to the line and reduces @UlsterRugby's deficit! ⚪
Good kick from Tom Banks to get Montpellier down to Ulster’s 22. And they’ll set up the maul here.
1 hr ago
9:04PM
44 mins: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Ball spills loose at the back of the lineout but the referee says it went behind. And then Donovan Taofifenua dinks the ball through on the far side for N’Gandebe to chase at the line but Mike Lowry seeps in to prevent the try.
1 hr ago
9:06PM
45 mins: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Montpellier come on the charge again with a tap and go and it looks like Taofifenua is just about in at the corner. It looks like it will be checked.
It’s getting really difficult for Ulster now as Lenni Nouchi jumps over for a sixth Montpellier try. It looks like it came from Jack Murphy trying to gather the ball in the air. Ulster don’t claim it and Montpellier come at them with Vunipola releasing the vital pass for Nouchi to finish.
59 mins ago
9:15PM
54 mins: Ulster 12-40 Montpellier
Much better from Ulster. Lowry kicks the ball through and tries to set up a try for Robert Baloucoune. He can’t secure possession though and the ball goes out for a 22 dropout.
They might not be getting the scores but that was a good response after conceding again.
That might give Ulster a lift as Robert Baloucoune succeeds at the second time of asking as he gets the score from a lineout and heads in under the posts to give Doak the tap-over conversion.
But as we write, Montpellier are on the hunt again and have a lineout at the corner to set up for a maul.
It just gets worse and worse for Ulster. Again, Montpellier have a lineout in Ulster’s corner and again, they come away with the profits. This time Wilfrid Hounkpatin who provides the final touch and Leo Coly adds the conversion.
41 mins ago
9:33PM
71 mins: Ulster 19-54 Montpellier
Ulster are in the Montpellier 22 and they’re stringing together some nice passes. Perhaps another try is on the way just to give them some sense of reward.
Ulster are certainly not going down without a fight. Lowry does well to link up with Baloucoune and sprint over for the try which is converted by Jake Flannery from a tight angle.
The writing was on the wall from early this evening, really. Ulster fought but there were just too many errors and too much pressure from Montpellier throughout the game.
It just was not to be for Richie Murphy’s side and tonight’s result means that Connacht will now qualify for the Champions Cup.
Speaking of the Champions Cup, the final takes place tomorrow as Leinster square off with Bordeaux Bègles and we hope to have you with us for the coverage.
Stay tuned for Gavan Casey’s live match report from Bilbao this evening and until next time, good luck!
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As it happened: Ulster fall short against Montpellier in Challenge Cup final
Hello and welcome along to our coverage of the Challenge Cup final as Ulster take on Montpellier.
This could be a great night for Ulster who won the Heineken Cup in 1999, and the Celtic League in 2006. Richie Murphy’s side will contest this final for the first time this evening against a team who have won this competition twice.
If you’re attending the game this evening, or just want to get involved in the coverage, do leave a comment below and enjoy the updates as they happen.
We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few minutes as we gear up for the 8pm kick-off in Bilbao.
The big news for Ulster is that Robert Baloucoune will make his first start for the province since getting injured against Scotland in March.
As expected, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and Rob Herring are all sidelined, with Iain Henderson missing out through suspension. Werner Kok also misses out on his final game for Ulster.
Ulster Rugby:
Replacements:
And here is how Montpellier are named to start:
Replacements:
Pre-match reading:
As Leinster prepare for the Champions Cup final tomorrow against Bordeaux-Begles, can Ulster get the weekend off to a winning start for Irish provinces this evening?
Call it here!
Poll Results:
The teams are out on the field now and it is sweltering in the stadium.
Kick-Off! Ulster v Montpellier
1 min: Ulster 0-0 Montpellier
And the 2026 Challenge Cup final is underway as Ulster win a penalty to get things started from a Montpellier kick-off.
2 mins: Ulster 0-0 Montpellier
A misread in the air sees Juarno Augustus make a break along the touchline. Ulster are already in the Montpellier five-metre line.
Could we be on for an early try? What a start that would be.
TRY! Ulster 7-0 Montpellier (Nick Timoney ’3)
TRY! Ulster 7-7 Montpellier (Gabriel N’Gandebe ’6)
11 mins: Ulster 7-7 Montpellier
What a start for both teams!
Nick Timoney finishes off that brilliant break from Augustus and Nathan Doak adds the conversion.
But Montpellier strike back almost straight away through Gabriel N’Gandebe after a lovely offload from Lennox Anyanwu.
Ulster thought they had a second try then when Harry Sheridan went over but referee Matthew Carley immediately stepped in to signal a knock-on.
14 mins: Ulster 7-7 Montpellier
Great grubber kick from Arthur Vincent to push Ulster back into their own corner.
TRY! Ulster 7-14 Montpellier (Donovan Taofifenua ’16)
21 mins: Ulster 7-14 Montpellier
That’s a big blow for Ulster. An overthrow from their lineout puts them under pressure and Donovan Taofifenua completes the move as he collects the pass out wide and dives over.
Domingo Miotti adds the extras.
25 mins: Ulster 7-14 Montpellier
Penalty for Montpellier as Ulster fail to get their set-up right in the scrum. The referee issued a warning and reset the scrum but punished them on the second whistle and Montpellier will get the clearance out.
27 mins: Ulster 7-14 Montpellier
Billy Vunipola moving a bit gingerly after taking some hits and is down receiving treatment. There’s a break in play while that takes place and the players desperately need to take on water in that heat.
TRY! Ulster 12-14 Montpellier (Cormac Izuchukwu ’28)
TRY! Ulster 12-21 Montpellier (Billy Vunipola ’32)
34 mins: Ulster 12-21 Montpellier
Another burst of scores as Cormac Izuchukwu gets in for Ulster’s second try but the conversion is missed by Nathan Doak.
But then there’s another blow for Ulster as Billy Vunipola powers through and Miotti adds another conversion.
TRY! Ulster 12-26 Montpellier (Alex Becognee ’37)
41 mins: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Montpellier are really motoring now. Alex Becognee forces his way over from a lineout maul, and for the first time tonight, Domingo Miotti misses a conversion kick.
Half-Time! Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Ulster tried to create one more attack before the break but are turned over as the referee awards a penalty to Montpellier which they kick to touch to see out the half.
It’s been a tough outing so far for Richie Murphy’s side. After that brilliant start when Nick Timoney went over, they conceded almost straight away through Gabriel N’Gandebe.
Donovan Taofifenua then put the French side in front before Cormac Izuchukwu responded to cut the deficit to two.
But Billy Vunipola and Alex Becognee added two more tries for Montpellier to firmly put Montpellier in control at the break.
The teams are returning to the field. Can Ulster turn this around?
Second Half: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
42 mins: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Good kick from Tom Banks to get Montpellier down to Ulster’s 22. And they’ll set up the maul here.
44 mins: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Ball spills loose at the back of the lineout but the referee says it went behind. And then Donovan Taofifenua dinks the ball through on the far side for N’Gandebe to chase at the line but Mike Lowry seeps in to prevent the try.
45 mins: Ulster 12-26 Montpellier
Montpellier come on the charge again with a tap and go and it looks like Taofifenua is just about in at the corner. It looks like it will be checked.
TRY! Ulster 12-33 Montpellier (Donovan Taofifenua ’45)
48 mins: Ulster 12-33 Montpellier
And the try is good. Miotti kicks the conversion and Montpellier are cruising.
TRY! Ulster 12-40 Montpellier (Lenni Nouchi ’49)
50 mins: Ulster 12-40 Montpellier
It’s getting really difficult for Ulster now as Lenni Nouchi jumps over for a sixth Montpellier try. It looks like it came from Jack Murphy trying to gather the ball in the air. Ulster don’t claim it and Montpellier come at them with Vunipola releasing the vital pass for Nouchi to finish.
54 mins: Ulster 12-40 Montpellier
Much better from Ulster. Lowry kicks the ball through and tries to set up a try for Robert Baloucoune. He can’t secure possession though and the ball goes out for a 22 dropout.
They might not be getting the scores but that was a good response after conceding again.
TRY! Ulster 19-40 Montpellier (Robert Baloucoune ’55)
57 mins: Ulster 19-40 Montpellier
That might give Ulster a lift as Robert Baloucoune succeeds at the second time of asking as he gets the score from a lineout and heads in under the posts to give Doak the tap-over conversion.
But as we write, Montpellier are on the hunt again and have a lineout at the corner to set up for a maul.
TRY! Ulster 19-47 Montpellier (Baptiste Erdocio ’59)
61 mins: Ulster 19-47 Montpellier
Just as we feared, Montpellier march their way through with the maul and Ulster just cannot repel the force.
TRY! Ulster 19-54 Montpellier (Wilfrid Hounkpatin ’64)
65 mins: Ulster 19-54 Montpellier
It just gets worse and worse for Ulster. Again, Montpellier have a lineout in Ulster’s corner and again, they come away with the profits. This time Wilfrid Hounkpatin who provides the final touch and Leo Coly adds the conversion.
71 mins: Ulster 19-54 Montpellier
Ulster are in the Montpellier 22 and they’re stringing together some nice passes. Perhaps another try is on the way just to give them some sense of reward.
TRY! Ulster 26-54 Montpellier (Mike Lowry ’72)
75 mins: Ulster 26-54 Montpellier
Ulster are certainly not going down without a fight. Lowry does well to link up with Baloucoune and sprint over for the try which is converted by Jake Flannery from a tight angle.
77 mins: Ulster 26-54 Montpellier
Ulster have a scrum in front of their try-line and despite the pressure, they manage to make the clearance.
TRY! Ulster 26-59 Montpellier (Arthur Vincent ’79)
Full-Time! Ulster 26-59 Montpellier
Ulster 26-59 Montpellier
The writing was on the wall from early this evening, really. Ulster fought but there were just too many errors and too much pressure from Montpellier throughout the game.
It just was not to be for Richie Murphy’s side and tonight’s result means that Connacht will now qualify for the Champions Cup.
Speaking of the Champions Cup, the final takes place tomorrow as Leinster square off with Bordeaux Bègles and we hope to have you with us for the coverage.
Stay tuned for Gavan Casey’s live match report from Bilbao this evening and until next time, good luck!
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