{"id":497926,"date":"2026-05-22T19:35:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/497926\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T19:35:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:35:13","slug":"ulster-v-montpellier-live-updates-ulster-behind-early-in-challenge-cup-final-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/497926\/","title":{"rendered":"Ulster v Montpellier live updates: Ulster behind early in Challenge Cup final \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Challenge Cup final: Ulster 12 Montpellier 14<\/b><\/p>\n

30 mins: Try for Ulster! <\/b>Cormac Izuchukwu shows his power and pace as he carries brilliantly to the line after some sharp passing and running by Ulster. Great attacking rugby. Unfortunately Doak misses the kick, so they\u2019re still two behind.<\/p>\n

Ulster 12 Montpellier 14<\/b><\/p>\n

27 mins: <\/b>Ulster get a scrum after Montpellier kick it out on the end line, but Ulster are penalised. But they get it back after Montpellier are penalised from their throw from the lineout. Montpellier captain Vunipola is receiving treatment, which would be a blow to them if he goes off.<\/p>\n

21 mins:<\/b> Great carries by McCann and Postlethwaite gets into the 22. Several phases but Ulster end up well outside their 22 and Montpellier then win a penalty. Stale play by Ulster but great line speed by Montpellier.<\/p>\n

17 mins: Try for Montpellier! <\/b>Sadly a terrible error by Ulster, Stewart\u2019s overthrow from the lineout gifts the ball to the French side. Vincent had put Ulster under pressure with a kick to the 5-metre line. Miotti played an excellent pass to Faofifenua to easily score. A fine conversion by Miotti too and Montpellier lead by seven. Ulster can\u2019t afford mistakes like that.<\/p>\n

Ulster 7 Montpellier 14<\/b><\/p>\n

14 mins:<\/b> Jude Postlethwaite is being strapped up after he was struggling following a breakdown. Zac Ward hasn\u2019t made the best start, not the most convincing for the Montpellier try and drops the ball to concede a scrum.<\/p>\n

10 mins:<\/b> Baloucoune\u2019s first big action as he fields very well and Ulster win a penalty with a turnover, offside again by Montpellier. Murphy kicks to touch, five metres out and another good chance for the Irish province. Then almost a try, Harry Sheridan had looked to have scored but Uelese put a big tackle in to force a knock-on. Electric start to this match.<\/p>\n

7 mins: Try for Montpellier!<\/b> The lead didn\u2019t last long. Vunipola involved as Cadot breaches the defensive line, beats a few players and offloads it to N\u2019Gandebe, who can\u2019t be caught and runs down the line. Miotti converts, back level.<\/p>\n

Montpellier 7 Ulster 7<\/b><\/p>\n

4 mins: Try for Ulster!<\/b> Captain Nick Timoney gets it over, Ulster had advantage but after many phases they eventually go over. Ideal start as Doak converts.<\/p>\n

Ulster 7 Montpellier 0<\/b><\/p>\n

2 mins: <\/b>Ulster win an early penalty for offside after the kick off, the referee Carley being firm from early on. Then a kick into the air from Doak is missed by Montpellier fullback Banks and falls nicely for Augustus who carries a good distance into the 22. Quick ball from Ulster. And they keep pushing forward to five metres.<\/p>\n

The teams are coming out on a hot night in Bilbao, kick-off is in five minutes.<\/p>\n

Rob Baloucoune is back after being missing for Ulster since the Six Nations for Ireland. There, he was outstanding particularly against England and has a big-game mentality. He could be key tonight.<\/p>\n

\"RobertRobert Baloucoune of Ulster Rugby warms up before the Challenge Cup final. Photograph: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce\/Getty <\/p>\n

Some fan pictures from before the game:<\/p>\n

\"UlsterUlster fans ahead of the game. Photograph: Nick Elliott\/Inpho \"UlsterUlster fans Mark and Scott Magowan from Belfast outside San Mam\u00e9s Stadium ahead of the game. Photograph: Nick Elliott\/Inpho \"MontpellierMontpellier fans ahead of the game. Photograph: Nick Elliott\/Inpho <\/p>\n

Nathan Johns<\/b> writes that his namesake Nathan Doak will be key for Ulster from scrumhalf. In the URC, HE leads individual players for kicks in play. Of 373 Ulster kicks this season, he has been responsible for 147. He also leads the league in try assists with 11. He dictates Ulster\u2019s play.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Ulster\u2019s Ward and Baloucoune offer inspiration, but key to victory rests with someone elseOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\"NathanNathan Doak plays football while in training in Bilbao. Photograph: Dan Sheridan\/Inpho <\/p>\n

Here is Gerry Thornley<\/b>\u2019s preview of tonight\u2019s match<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Attitudes toward the Challenge Cup can vary, be it from teams that take the competition indifferently or seriously, or those whose interest heightens the further they progress. But come the final, there\u2019s no doubting the Challenge Cup\u2019s importance for the last two teams standing.<\/p>\n

First and foremost, this is a chance to win a trophy, as Montpellier have twice demonstrated in the past. For Ulster, winning the Challenge Cup would see them win silverware for the first time since their 2006 Celtic League success \u2013 the longest trophy drought of any of the four Irish provinces.<\/p>\n

Winning the Challenge Cup also offers an alternative route into next season\u2019s Champions Cup for Ulster.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Challenge Cup final preview: Ulster face daunting task against Montpellier in BilbaoOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\"AA view of an Ulster jersey ahead of the game. Photograph: Dan Sheridan\/Inpho <\/p>\n

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ulster<\/a> against Montpellier in the Challenge Cup<\/a> final. Kick-off at the San Mam\u00e9s Stadium in Bilbao is at 8pm. Ulster are going for their first European trophy since 1999 on a sweltering hot night in northern Spain, where they are underdogs against a strong Montpellier side, who are currently second in France\u2019s Top 14. There\u2019s no Stuart McCloskey or Jacob Stockdale either through injuries, but they have been boosted by the return of Robert Baloucoune, the Irish star has been missing since the Six Nations.<\/p>\n

Here are the teams: <\/p>\n

ULSTER: <\/b>Michael Lowry; Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O\u2019Toole; Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu; David McCann, Nick Timoney (capt), Juarno Augustus.<\/p>\n

Replacements:<\/b> James McCormick, Eric O\u2019Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Charlie Irvine, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ethan McIlroy.<\/p>\n

MONTPELLIER:<\/b> Tom Banks; Gabriel N\u2019Gandebe, Arthur Vincent, Auguste Cadot, Donovan Taofifenua; Domingo Miotti, Ali Price; Enzo Forletta, Jordan Uelese, Mohamed Haouas; Florian Verhaeghe, Tyler DuGuid; Lenni Nouchi, Alex Becognee, Billy Vunipola (capt).<\/p>\n

Replacements:<\/b> Lyam Akrab, Baptiste Erdocio, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Adam Beard, Marco Tauleigne, Leo Coly, Thomas Darmon, Jon Echegaray.<\/p>\n

Referee:<\/b> M Carley (Eng).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Challenge Cup final: Ulster 12 Montpellier 14 30 mins: Try for Ulster! Cormac Izuchukwu shows his power and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":497927,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[76],"tags":[56840,18,19,17,132,23200],"class_list":["post-497926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-challenge-cup","tag-eire","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-sports","tag-ulster-rugby"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116619911925966813","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=497926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497926\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/497927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=497926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=497926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=497926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}