EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals: Venues, kick-off times, dates and how to watch details revealed
Ulster's Bryn Ward and an inset of the Challenge Cup semi-final fixtures.
The Challenge Cup semi-finals have been confirmed as Ulster Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Montpellier Herault Rugby, and Dragons RFC bid for their place in the Bilbao final.
Ulster will host Exeter Chiefs at the Affidea Stadium after the Irish province secured a third-place seeding from the pool stages and beat Ospreys (28-24) and Stade Rochelais (41-24) in the round of 16 and quarter-final, respectively.
Challenge Cup semi-finals, confirmed
Due to their higher seeding from the pool stages, they have home-ground advantage for the showdown with Exeter Chiefs, who head to Belfast after defeating Munster at Sandy Park (31-21) and Benetton in Treviso (41-44).
The Chiefs have tasted EPCR success previously, winning the Investec Champions Cup in 2019/20, but the two-time PREM Rugby champions have never won the Challenge Cup. The same is true for Ulster, who won the Champions Cup back in 1999 and continue their bid for their first time since winning the 2005/6 PRO14.
The other semi-final sees two-time Challenge Cup victors Montpellier host the Dragons at the Septeo Stadium. Winners in 2016 and 2021, MHR thrashed neighbours Perpignan 53-13 and mauled Connacht 45-22 to reach the final four.
Standing in their way, though, is an underdog Dragons outfit that qualified for the round of 16 as the 13th-ranked team. That left them travelling to the imposing Stade Jean Bouin to tackle Stade Francais, where Filo Tiatia’s charges claimed a 36-31 upset.
They repeated those efforts in Parma, where they clinched a 35-32 quarter-final victory over Zebre.
The victors from the action in Belfast and Montpellier will meet in the final, which will take place on Friday, 22 May at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.
Ulster v Exeter Chiefs
Date: Saturday, May 2
Venue: Affidea Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 BST/18:30 CEST
TV coverage: beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCRugby.TV/SuperSport/Premier Sports
Montpellier Herault Rugby v Dragons RFC
Date: Sunday, 3 May
Venue: Septeo Stadium
Kick-off: 14:30 local (13:30 BST)
TV coverage: beIN SPORTS / FloRugby / EPCRugby.TV/SuperSport/Premier Sports
2026 EPCR Challenge Cup Final
Date: Friday, 22 May
Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST)