French high-flyers Montpellier are firm favourites to claim a third EPCR Challenge Cup title when they face absentee-hit Ulster in Friday's final in Bilbao . Montpellier were champions in 2016 and 2021 and are 1/3 with BOYLE Sports to add the 2026 title to their collection against an Ulster side looking to win their first trophy in 20 years.
Ulster , who are 9/4 for victory, head into the final on the back of a heartbreaking end to their United Rugby Championship campaign, just missing out on a top-eight finish after failing to win any of their last four matches. That means the Northern Irish province must now win the Challenge Cup to get into next season's Champions Cup , and they will have to do it without a number of key players at San Mames Stadium .
Ireland trio Jacob Stockdale , Stuart McCloskey and Rob Herring are among those out injured for the final, while captain Iain Henderson is suspended. The 1999 European champions have not lifted any silverware since winning the Celtic League in 2006, and we think they may have to wait a while longer, with our first Montpellier vs Ulster prediction being the French side to win both halves by four or more points @ 5/2.
Betting Odds
Montpellier vs Ulster Betting Odds – EPCR Challenge Cup Final 2025/26
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Montpellier | 1/3 | 75.0% |
Ulster | 9/4 | 30.8% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Montpellier are 1/3 favourites to win the EPCR Challenge Cup final. Ulster can be backed at 9/4.
How to Watch
How to Watch Montpellier vs Ulster
The EPCR Challenge Cup final is scheduled to begin at 20:00 BST on Friday and will be shown live on ITV4 .
Form Guides
Montpellier Form Guide
Star-studded Montpellier , who boast the likes of Billy Vunipola , Ali Price and Adam Beard in their ranks, stormed through the group stage with four wins from four and were similarly impressive in then seeing off Perpignan 53-13 and Connacht 45-22 to reach the semi-finals.
Joan Caudullo 's attack-minded side were given a real test in the last four by the Dragons and were made to sweat until the end before sealing an 18-12 victory. Domestically, Montpellier are second in the Top 14 standings, eight points behind Toulouse heading into the final two games, and are on a seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
They are the leading try-scorers in the Challenge Cup with 36, and we think they will win a potentially high-scoring final by an 11-to-20 point margin @ 11/4, looking at the Montpellier vs Ulster odds.
Ulster Form Guide
Ulster have had to negotiate a tough route to reach their maiden Challenge Cup final. They finished one point clear in a group that included Stade Francais , Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 , winning three of four matches, before edging a tense last-16 encounter against Ospreys 28-24. In the quarter-finals, they beat French giants La Rochelle 41-24 before meeting Exeter , another former European champion, in the last four, and coming out 29-12 victors.
However, that win over the Chiefs did not come without a cost, as Ireland duo Stockdale and McCloskey suffered season-ending injuries, while Henderson was last week handed a three-match ban for his red card in Ulster 's 38-38 URC draw with Stormers . Those absences, combined with a disappointing end to their URC season, means Richie Murphy 's team are up against it in Spain, but they still have plenty of firepower in their arsenal.
Nathan Doak , Werner Kok and Zac Ward are among Ulster 's danger men, and you can get odds of 23/10 for the Irish side to lift the trophy. They may need to make a flying start, though, in which case 6/4 for them to score 10 points before Montpellier is tempting in our Montpellier vs Ulster betting tips.
Betting Tips
Montpellier vs Ulster Betting Tips
Montpellier to Win Both Halves by 4+ Points @ 5/2
Montpellier to Win by 11-20 Points @ 11/4
Ulster to Score 10 Points Before Montpellier @ 6/4
Simply click/tap on the above betting tips to add to your betslip.
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