Bilbao or bust - will Ulster bounce back with trophy?

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist in Bilbao

One game from history.

Ulster's entire season will come down to the biggest 80 minutes of their campaign when they take on Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.

After the final there are no play-offs to look forward to and no second chances.

It's win in Bilbao or bust for their campaign.

Richie Murphy's young side had to watch in despair as they slipped out of the play-off places in the United Rugby Championship for the second year in a row.

That meant they missed out on automatic qualification for the Champions Cup next year.

But they have a chance to immediately bounce back in the biggest game for the Irish province in 14 years - since Leinster beat them in a Champions Cup decider.

Not only would victory end Ulster's 20-year silverware drought, but it would also earn qualification to Europe's top tier for next season.

There's a lot on the line, but Ulster have full belief that they can shock the Top 14 side.

"We've come this far and I think we are a good enough team," said Nick Timoney, who added that it will be an "unbelievable honour" to captain the side in the absence of the suspended Iain Henderson.

"We're not just here to go out and give it a crack, we're in a place as a team where we want to go and win."

In the beautiful Basque city of Bilbao, in the north of Spain and which is hosting European rugby finals for the second time, Ulster got their first taste of the San Mames Stadium in the captain's run on Thursday.

It is a huge occasion, but the session was full of smiles and laughter, rather than any visible nerves.

Ulster may be missing key players, such as Henderson and the injured trio of Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Rob Herring, and only 23 players will take to the pitch on Friday.

But there was unity as the wider group took part in the captain's run, with players playing football as well as warming up with a rugby ball.

There were no signs of lingering disappointment from Friday's late defeat by Glasgow Warriors, which ultimately led to them missing out on the top eight in the URC.

"It's a week that's not difficult to get up for," said hooker Tom Stewart.

"We've all said it, being in a cup final doesn't come around too often. It has been a special time for the boys.

"It has been special to get behind Nick and watch how he has taken the team, and watch boys grow into the opportunity that is in front of them."

Challenge Cup final

Friday, 22 May at 20:00 BST

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

The San Mames Stadium is the home of Spanish La Liga side Athletic Bilbao, 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," 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."

Stewart echoed Timoney's thoughts. At 25 he is still in the early years of his career but he has emerged as a young leader of the team.

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

"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."