- Robert Baloucoune returns for Ulster, being missing since the Six Nations.
- Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson are big absentees for Ulster.
- Ulster will play in their first final since 2012 and aim for their first trophy since 2006.
| Home team | Montpellier |
| Away team | Ulster |
| Venue | Stadio San Mames |
| Competition | Challenge Cup Final |
| Kick off time | 8 pm (UK) |
| Watch Live in the UK | ITV/Premier Sports |
Montpellier vs Ulster Challenge Cup final preview as the sides meet at the Stadio San Mames in Bilbao.
Montpellier have won the Challenge Cup twice, reaching the peak of the competition in 2016 and 2021.
Ulster won the Champions Cup in 1999 and reached the final in 2012, losing out to Leinster.
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Montpellier vs Ulster lineups to follow
| Montpellier | Ulster | ||||
| Forwards | |||||
| Forletta | 1 | Bell | |||
| Uelese | 2 | Stewart | |||
| Haouas | 3 | O’Toole | |||
| Verhaeghe | 4 | Sheridan | |||
| Duguid | 5 | Izuchukwu | |||
| Nouchi | 6 | McCann | |||
| Becognee | 7 | Timoney | |||
| Vunipola | 8 | Augustus | |||
| Backs | |||||
| Price | 9 | Doak | |||
| Miotti | 10 | Murphy | |||
| Taofifenua | 11 | Z Ward | |||
| Cadot | 12 | Postlethwaite | |||
| Vincent | 13 | Hume | |||
| Ngandebe | 14 | Baloucoune | |||
| Banks | 15 | Lowry | |||
| Replacements | |||||
| Akrab | 16 | McCormick | |||
| Erdocio | 17 | O’Sullivan | |||
| Hounkpatin | 18 | Wilson | |||
| Beard | 19 | Irvine | |||
| Tauleigne | 20 | B Ward | |||
| Coly | 21 | McKee | |||
| Darmon | 22 | Flannery | |||
| Echegaray | 23 | McIlroy | |||
Recent Form:
Montpellier (Home team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Won | 16th May 2026 | Top 14 | Castres | 33-36 |
| Won | 9th May 2026 | Top 14 | Montauban | 59-7 |
| Won | 3rd May 2026 | Challenge Cup | Dragons | 18-12 |
| Won | 25th April 2026 | Top 14 | Bordeaux Begles | 21-23 |
| Won | 18th April 2026 | Top 14 | Prepignan | 42-31 |
Montpellier are on an exceptional seven-game winning streak, and their only loss in the last 12 has come against Toulouse in the Top 14. They defeated the Dragons 18-12 in the semi-final to book their place in the Challenge Cup final. In their last game, they pulled off a narrow win against Castres. The game was level 19-19 at halftime. The difference between the teams that both scored five tries was from a Miotti penalty to put them 36-26 ahead with 15 minutes to go. A late Castres try was only enough to bring them within three points.
Ulster (Away team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 15th May 2026 | URC | Glasgow Warriors | 22-26 |
| Draw | 8th May 2026 | URC | Stormers | 38-38 |
| Won | 2nd May 2026 | Challenge Cup | Exeter Chiefs | 29-12 |
| Loss | 25th April 2026 | URC | Munster | 41-14 |
| Lost | 18th April 2026 | URC | Leinster | 21-29 |
Ulster have only won one of their last five matches, and that was in the semi-final win over the Exeter Chiefs to reach the final. They missed out on the top eight in the URC with no wins in their final four games of the league campaign. They made a good effort in their final game against the league-leading Glasgow Warriors. Ulster thought they had done enough to win the game with their two tries in the second-half to put them 22-21 ahead.
Montpellier vs Ulster head-to-head record (last three matches):
| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| 7th April 2024 | Challenge Cup | Ulster | 17-40 |
| 10th January 2014 | Champions Cup | Ulster | 27-16 |
| 19th October 2013 | Champions Cup | Ulster | 8-25 |
Ulster have won all three meetings between the sides, winning both group games in the Champions Cup in 2013/14. In the most recent meeting, Ulster won 40-17 two years ago. Robert Baloucoune scored that day and set up Will Addison.
