BBC Sounds

You can listen to BBC Radio Ulster's coverage of tonight's game on this page now.

The programme will be presented by Orla Bannon with Jim Neilly on commentary alongside former Ulster players Tony McWhirter and Ian Humphreys.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI in Bilbao

Image source, BBC Sport

Bilbao isn't a city that would usually be associated with rugby, but it has fully embraced a weekend of two huge European finals.

There is tons of signage and promo throughout the city, especially down by the Nervion River, and fans from all four finalists - and some from teams who didn't make it - have been taking it all in.

In the distance, you might be able to clock a giant inflatable rugby ball on the balcony of Bilbao's City Hall.

Having both finals in the same city on the same weekend is a great idea and makes it a festival of rugby.

Right, our man on the ground Andy Gray's been out and about before the game. Let's see what he's been up to...

Plenty of iced teas in those tabernas, I'm sure.

BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews caught up with Ulster boss Richie Murphy at the stadium this evening.

Ulster fly-half Jack Murphy with the correct response to hearing there will be no water breaks tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Suspended Ulster captain Iain Henderson speaking on Premier Sports: "I would like to say I'm not a nervous watcher, but I am, you might see me twitching about the dugout but the boys have it.

"They understand the emotion and the occasion. They haven't strayed from what we do. We've seen what we can do when we go well."

On the weather: "We've talked about it at the start of the week, we can feel it is going to be roasting but over our last four games Ulster have had over 40 minutes ball in play time, Montpellier have struggled to get past the early 30s so that is something we will look at, starting fast and putting ourselves in a difficult position where we will be tired.

"We have no second front to battle on after this so it is all or bust."

Stephen Ferris
Former Ireland and Ulster flanker on Premier Sports

It's Ulster's one shot at glory but after the season they had last year, many Ulster fans, myself included, would have bitten your hand off to be in this position.

This is a young side, with not much experience but they have no fear, it's been a great year for them and hopefully they finish tonight off with a win.

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Sport NI

This team is more than capable of playing a really exciting brand of rugby and running this Montpellier team around.

Montpellier are strong, but I think Ulster should have full belief to go out there and give it their absolute best and come away with a win.

Keep 'em coming!

In Bilbao? Or just enjoying the game from home?

Wherever you are, get in touch with your predictions and observations.

Click the yellow 'Get Involved' button at the top of this page and ping us your thoughts.

More from Vunipola on Ulster: "When we look at Ulster, we see a team that's very well organised, but also they can play in the chaos.

"We are very aware of the weapons that they have and the fact that it's their last game, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"We know what they're going to bring in terms of their rugby, but we also know that they're willing to go deep, both physically and mentally."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

Image source, Thinkstock

It's the week of a European final and Billy Vunipola is facing the media.

Instead of the usual stock answers that come from many athletes before big games, full of the usual tropes and cliches, the Montpellier back row takes a second before responding to questions.

Not just once, but on a host of topics, ranging from eligibility, ruling out a switch to Tonga, proving himself in France and on his most immediate focus - the Challenge Cup final against Ulster.

The former England number eight made the move to the Top14 in 2024 after his long, trophy-laden association with Saracens came to an end.

But this was far from a payday to see him off into the sunset of his career.

The 33-year-old said he had the "same mindset" joining Montpellier as an established international in 2024, as he did when he made the switch from Wasps to Saracens as an up-and-coming 21-year-old in 2013.

"I had to prove myself to every single person in the changing rooms that I wasn't here for a pay cheque," he said.

"I wasn't here to pack up my bags and enjoy the last few years of my career.

"It was the same noises when I left Wasps to go to Saracens. I had to knuckle down and prove to them that I was there for rugby."

Image source, Inpho

With temperatures set to be 27 degrees at kick-off, Ulster will have to weather the elements as well as their opponents tonight.

The San Mames Stadium is the home of Spanish La Liga side Athletic Club, who have had a recent resurgence with silverware in recent years.

While the 1999 European Cup is the biggest honour in their history, Ulster's last trophy came in 2006 when they won the Celtic League and it has been a long wait for players and supporters alike.

"Just embrace it and love it. They are unbelievably special occasions," captain Nick Timoney said on his advice to younger players.

"I've been around long enough to know that these days are rare at best, so you just have to love every second of it.

"Hopefully we have a great day and we can kick on, and use it as a platform to launch ourselves on to bigger and better things.

"It has been a long wait, and for our fans and players, we owe it to ourselves to give it everything."

Image source, Inpho

At 25, Tom Stewart is still in the early years of his career but he has emerged as a young leader for Ulster.

"Everyone thinks, and hopes, these opportunities are going to come around all the time, but they don't," said the hooker.

"It's special and it's not something we take lightly or take for granted. It's one we are really going to relish."

While Ulster are present in Bilbao, Stewart's heart is still in Belfast as he thinks of the pictures and history on the walls of the Affidea Stadium.

As someone who was just five when Ulster last lifted silverware, he came to Ravenhill as a child with dreams of the very moment he will have on Friday.

In short, "it means more for an Ulster team".

"Unfortunately there hasn't been lots of it [silverware] so we really do put all of our eggs in one basket when it comes to it. It would be nice to be part of history that way.

"Growing up it has been my home club. I wanted to play here and you can only dream of being in a final.

"For it to be in front of our faces, and for us to put our own stamp on Ulster, it would be incredibly special."

Image source, Inpho

Speaking earlier this week, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy called on his players to "fight with everything they have got" against Montpellier.

Murphy was coaching at Leinster when they won their three most recent Champions Cups, as well as his time as Ireland's head coach when they won an Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam.

"From those experiences, it's really important to know that everything doesn't go right in a final, and it's how you react," he said.

"When I look at some of those games, we won by playing some unbelievable rugby but on other days you need to fight with everything you've got.

"That's a key part of this game. We have a plan to go out and play, but if that plan doesn't go the way we want, it's really important that we stick together and fight for everything we can get."

He added: "We keep talking all the time about playing the game that we want to play.

"We're not going to change this week. We're going to play a final the way we have tried to approach all of our games all season."

Time to get a word from the respective camps, who've fitted media obligations into their busy schedule of trying to find shade this week.

Ulster

The bad news for Ulster? They're without Stuart McCloskey, Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring.

We've known that for some time, but Rob Baloucoune's inclusion tonight is a huge boost.

David McCann is also fit enough to start in a meaty back row alongside stand-in skipper Nick Timoney and ball-carrying maestro Juarno Augustus.

Montpellier are led by former England number eight Billy Vunipola and have named Scotland scrum-half at nine. Missing out, however, is Alex Masibaka, who has been outstanding in their run to the final.

Montpellier: T Banks; G Ngandebe, A Vincent, A Cadot, D Taofifenua; D Miotti, A Price; E Forletta, J Uelese, M Haouas, F Verhaeghe, T Duguid, L Nouchi, A Becognee, B Vunipola (capt).

Replacements: L Akrab, B Erdocio, W Hounkpatin, A Beard, M Tauleigne, L Coly, T Darmon, J Echegaray.

Ulster: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Hume, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, T O'Toole, H Sheridan, C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney (capt), J Augustus.

Replacements: J McCormick, E O'Sullivan, S Wilson, C Irvine, B Ward, C McKee, J Flannery, E McIlroy.

Image source, Inpho

There's a lot to get into, but it seems sensible to start with a look at the all-important line-ups...

Here we are, then. A huge weekend for Irish rugby in the baking Bilbao heat.

Tomorrow, Leinster go in search of an elusive fifth star when they face holders Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final.

But before that, Montpellier stand between Ulster and a first trophy in 20 years.

The spectacular San Mames Stadium is the setting.

Kick-off is 90 minutes away. Let's get stuck into the build-up.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho