Summary

  • European Challenge Cup final - Montpellier 59-26 Ulster (FT)

  • Montpellier win third Challenge Cup with ruthless victory

  • Use our Get Involved button to have your say

  • Ulster's 20-year silverware drought continues and defeat means they will play in Challenge Cup again next year

Send us your views

Live Reporting

Matt Gault and Issy Todd

  1. Get Involved

    FT: Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    Nine tries conceded in a European final. Not a good look for the league.

    Chris, Bordeaux

  2. FT: Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    John Barclay
    Former Scotland captain on Premier Sports

    The gulf in class and the detail to their game, power, accuracy, scrum, maul and their willingness to defend. Mightily impressed by that performance by Montpellier.

  3. 'Montpellier in a class of their own'

    FT: Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    Credit to Montpellier where credit is due. They absorbed everything Ulster threw at them in that first half and in the second half they were just in a class of their own.

    Forward power, clinical and the set piece just went to work on Ulster in the second answer.

    From an Ulster point of view, there's work to be done but it's a very young Ulster side and there'll be learnings from this and plus points as well.

  4. FT: Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    A bruising and humbling night in the Bilbao heat for Ulster.

    Their season promised so much at one stage but they've missed out on the URC play-offs and now must prepare for another season without Champions Cup rugby.

    And, of course, their wait for a first trophy since 2006 goes on.

  5. FT: Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at the San Mames Stadium

    Some stats that don't make pretty reading for Ulster.

    Montpellier have broken the record for the most points scored in a final, surpassing Wasps 43 in 2003.

    They have also scored the most tries in a Challenge Cup decider, firing past Colomiers' total of seven from 1998.

    They really were clinical tonight.

  6. Full-time - Montpellier win the Challenge Cup

    Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    It's all over. An absolutely dominant showing from Montpellier as they brush Ulster aside to win the Challenge Cup for the third time.

    Ulster were far from their best but Montpellier were so clinical and powerful throughout the 80 minutes.

    FT: Montpellier 59-26 UlsterInpho

    FT: Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

  7. Get Involved

    Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    Just not good enough unfortunately. 9th and no Champions Cup, then 50+ conceded in a final. Very deflating

    Caolan, Bilbao

    Ohhh. Humiliating for Ulster, they were always going to be up against it, but to have some big players missing gave them little hope. Fair play to them for getting this far.

    Patrick

    Cormac IzuchukwuGetty Images
  8. try

    Try - Montpellier 59-26 Ulster

    Arthur Vincent

    Jake Flannery can't get Ulster up the pitch and Montpellier get going from the line-out, find Arthur Vincent out left and he finishes with simplicity to complete the demolition job.

    Montpellier score tryInpho

  9. Montpellier 54-26 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    The likes of Scott Wilson, James McCormick, Charlie Irvine, that fresh blood, they're still working their socks off.

  10. Montpellier 54-26 Ulster

    Another bit of scrum dominance from Montpellier and a kick to the corner.

    Here goes the maul again but this time Montpellier can't capitalise and Ulster will have the put in.

  11. Get Involved

    Montpellier 54-26 Ulster

    Ulster really up against it. Probably a fair reflection of where these two teams are. Montpellier one of the best teams in the Top14 this season and Ulster can only finish ninth in URC

    Fred, Portrush

    Ulster players dejectedInpho

  12. Montpellier 54-26 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    It's a beautiful offload from Baloucoune. My goodness he has looked sharp. He's been unbelievably good tonight.

  13. Montpellier 54-26 Ulster

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at the San Mames Stadium

    To be fair to Ulster, they are still giving this a rattle and even some Montpellier fans applauded that score from Lowry.

    This one is long over as a contest, but Ulster want to go out on a high.

  14. converted try

    Converted try - Montpellier 54-26 Ulster

    Mike Lowry (con Jake Flannery)

    A scrum for Ulster and a rare foray up the pitch.

    Nick Timoney makes some good metres and Ulster hold on to it well before Mike Lowry and Rob Baloucoune combine beautifully to send the former over the line.

    Replacement out-half Jake Flannery slots the kick.

    They're not going down without a fight.

  15. Montpellier 54-19 Ulster

    Ten minutes to go and Ulster's heads have understandably dropped.

    A few dejected faces in the dugout, too.

    Ulster players dejectedInpho

  16. Montpellier 54-19 Ulster

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at the San Mames Stadium

    This is so open now it could honestly end up being any score.

    It's almost half 10 In Bilbao and it's still just shy of 30 degrees.

    The crowd respond with a Mexican wave, presumably to try and cool everyone down.

  17. Montpellier 54-19 Ulster

    Ian Humphreys
    Former Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys on BBC Radio Ulster

    Montpellier are ruthless. They are driving Ulster back. It's going to be tough to not see Ulster concede another try or two.

  18. Montpellier 54-19 Ulster

    Stephen Ferris
    Former Ireland and Ulster flanker on Premier Sports

    Every time Ulster have made a mistake, Montpellier have scored a try. They've been so clinical.

    Nathan DoakGetty Images

  19. Montpellier 54-19 Ulster

    Ulster did brilliantly to reach this stage but they've just come up against a classy, clinical team tonight.

    Montpellier's power has been hugely impressive.

  20. Montpellier 54-19 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    A couple of pick and goes down the blindside and I think that's goodnight for Ulster unfortunately.