The heat hung heavily over Bilbao as thousands of Ulster supporters flooded toward San Mamés Stadium on Friday night, black, white and red shirts cutting through the glowing Basque evening ahead of the province’s biggest game in years. Long after the sun had begun to fall, temperatures still refused to ease, the air thick with tension, expectation and hope as Ulster Rugby stepped onto the pitch for the EPCR Challenge Cup Final.
Standing opposite them was a powerful Montpellier Hérault Rugby flying high in the Top 14 and packed with size, experience and international quality, but Ulster arrived in Spain carrying belief, momentum and the backing of a passionate travelling support dreaming of European silverware.
In the end, Montpellier’s physicality and clinical edge proved decisive as the French side claimed the Challenge Cup title, but despite the disappointment of defeat, Ulster’s courageous run to a European final brought the curtain down on a hugely positive season full of resilience, growth and promise for the future.
Ulster made the perfect start under the Bilbao lights. Straight from the kick-off, Juarno Augustus thundered into contact before Montpellier were penalised at the breakdown, immediately allowing Ulster to establish territory deep inside the French side’s half.
The early pressure was relentless. Wave after wave of Ulster forwards drove towards the Montpellier line and in the 2nd minute the breakthrough arrived. After immense control through multiple close-range phases, captain Nick Timoney picked sharply from the base and powered over from short range to send the Ulster support into eruption. Nathan Doak added the conversion and Ulster had stormed into a 7-0 lead.
Montpellier responded quickly though. In the 5th minute, a sharp break from Cadot opened space out wide before Ngandebe burst into the corner for the French side’s opening try. Miotti produced an excellent touchline conversion to level the scores at 7-7.
Ulster continued to play with ambition and energy. Clever kicking from Doak and Jack Murphy pinned Montpellier deep inside their own 22, while Harry Sheridan came agonisingly close to restoring Ulster’s lead in the 8th minute only for the ball to be knocked on over the line.
As the half settled, Montpellier’s enormous forward pack began to impose themselves physically. The French side repeatedly tested Ulster around the breakdown and close to the line, using their significant size advantage to build pressure.
That pressure told in the 15th minute. After Ulster lost possession from a defensive lineout inside their own 5 metre line, Montpellier shifted the ball wide for Taofifenua to crash over in the corner. Another superb conversion from Miotti pushed Montpellier ahead 14-7.
In the 27th minute, Nathan Doak whipped a superb pass to Jack Murphy who quickly released James Hume, and the centre timed a beautiful ball perfectly for Cormac Izuchukwu charging onto at pace. The second row exploded through a gap from outside the 10 metre line and stormed over for a magnificent Ulster try. Doak narrowly missed the conversion, but Ulster were right back in the contest at 14-12.
Montpellier answered once again though. Sustained pressure deep inside the Ulster 22 eventually saw captain Billy Vunipola crash over from close range in the 31st minute after relentless forward carries. Miotti converted to extend the lead to 21-12.
The French side finished the half strongly. After another powerful rolling maul in the 37th minute, Becognee forced his way over to score Montpellier’s fourth try of the night and give the Top 14 side firm control of the contest.
Half Time: Ulster 12 Montpellier Hérault Rugby 26
Ulster still battled bravely after the restart, but Montpellier’s momentum continued to grow. A dangerous kick through from Taofifenua early in the second half forced Ulster back onto their own line, and from the resulting pressure the winger produced a brilliant diving finish in the corner in the 44th minute to extend Montpellier’s advantage to 33-12 after Miotti’s conversion.
The French side continued to punish every opportunity. In the 48th minute, Nouchi powered over after another sustained attacking spell, before Miotti added the extras to make it 40-12.
Ulster refused to stop fighting. Like a flash through the heavy Bilbao heat, Robert Baloucoune sliced brilliantly through a gap in the Montpellier defence and raced away to score a superb individual try beneath the posts. Doak converted and Ulster suddenly had life again at 40-19.
Any hopes of a dramatic comeback were quickly halted though as Montpellier’s rolling maul once again proved devastatingly effective. Erdocio touched down in the 58th minute before Hounkpatin added another forward-driven score in the 63rd minute as the French side’s power game continued to dominate.
Still Ulster continued to attack until the very end. In the 72nd minute, Michael Lowry and Robert Baloucoune combined beautifully in open space before Lowry crossed for another excellent Ulster try.
Montpellier had the final word through Vincent late on, but by then the result was beyond doubt as the French side secured the Challenge Cup title in Bilbao.
The final whistle brought heartbreak for Ulster, but also immense pride in a squad that fought their way to a European final and produced countless memorable moments throughout the season. While silverware ultimately slipped away in Spain, this campaign has shown the enormous character, resilience and potential growing within Richie Murphy’s side.
Full Time: Ulster 26 Montpellier Hérault Rugby 59
Scorers:
Ulster:
Tries – Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu, Robert Baloucoune, Michael Lowry.
Cons – Nathan Doak (2), Jake Flannery.
Montpellier Hérault Rugby:
Tries – Ngandebe, Taofifenua (2), Billy Vunipola, Becognee, Nouchi, Erdocio, Hounkpatin, Vincent.
Cons – Miotti (5), Coly (2).
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
Teams
Ulster Rugby:
1. Angus Bell, 2. Tom Stewart, 3. Tom O’Toole, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Cormac Izuchukwu, 6. David McCann, 7. Nick Timoney (Captain), 8. Juarno Augustus, 9. Nathan Doak, 10. Jack Murphy, 11. Zac Ward, 12. Jude Postlethwaite. 13. James Hume, 14. Robert Baloucoune, 15. Michael Lowry
Replacements: 16. James McCormick, 17. Eric O’Sullivan, 18. Scott Wilson, 19. Charlie Irvine, 20. Bryn Ward, 21. Conor McKee, 22. Jake Flannery, 23. Ethan McIlroy.
Montpellier Hérault Rugby:
1. Enzo Forletta, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Mohamed Haouas, 4. Florian Verhaeghe, 5. Tyler DuGuid, 6. Lenni Nouchi, 7. Alex Becognee, 8. Billy Vunipola (c), 9. Ali Price, 10. Domingo Miotti, 11. Donovan Taofifenua, 12. Auguste Cadot, 13. Arthur Vincent, 14. Gabriel N'Gandebe, 15. Tom Banks,
Replacements: 16. Lyam Akrab, 17. Baptiste Erdocio, 18. Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 19. Adam Beard, 20. Marco Tauleigne, 21. Leo Coly, 22. Thomas Darmon, 23. Jon Echegaray