On May 22 in Bilbao, Ulster Rugby will chase the trophy that has eluded them for two decades. The Irish province's path to the Challenge Cup final was sealed despite heartbreak in their final regular season match—a late Kyle Rowe try from Glasgow Warriors denied them a top-eight finish in the United Rugby Championship, leaving their Champions Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
What makes this moment matter is what hangs in the balance. Ulster can still qualify for the top tier of European rugby next season, but only if they defeat Montpellier. For a rugby-mad province in Belfast, the stakes carry the weight of two decades without silverware. Nick Timoney, the 30-year-old who will likely captain Ulster in the final with Iain Henderson suspended and Stuart McCloskey sidelined by injury, spoke to the enormity of what lies ahead. "There hasn't been a trophy since 20 years ago which is a historic statistic," he said. "Fans, friends and family all going over, scrambling to get flights and accommodation. It means the same to us as the fans, so we'll make sure nothing is left unturned for next week."
The road to Bilbao has been bruising. Ulster came from behind against Glasgow to lead by a single point with twelve minutes remaining at the Affidea Stadium, only to watch the Warriors snatch victory in the final moments. The week before, they'd drawn 38-38 at home against the Stormers in a dramatic game that left them unable to secure the result they needed. These back-to-back disappointments at home against top-ranked opponents would have broken many teams. Not this one.
Timoney acknowledged the sting but refused to dwell on it. "Similar to last week, probably some great stuff in attack but then they had some great stuff in attack and we couldn't stop it," he reflected. "There's no looking past next week, so while this is disappointing, there's an opportunity to salvage something." It's that fighting spirit—the refusal to be beaten even when circumstances turn sour—that Timoney believes gives Ulster genuine hope in Bilbao.
Coach Richie Murphy's side have shown a resilience this season that marks a shift in mentality. "In the past or last season probably we would have laid down against Glasgow and taken a bit more of a beating whereas we fought back and stayed in the fight against a really good team," Timoney said. The improvement is real, even if the results haven't always reflected it.
Yet Ulster know their vulnerabilities. Defence remains a concern—they've conceded too many points throughout the season, and Timoney was blunt about what needs to happen. "We're going to struggle if we're conceding as many points as we have," he acknowledged. "But when we make it harder for teams to score against us, we've shown how dangerous we are." The focus for the week ahead is singular: tighten the defence, sharpen the attack, and bring the fight that nearly toppled Glasgow.
In European finals, Timoney believes the technicalities matter less than the spirit you bring. For Ulster, that spirit has been tested, questioned, and ultimately proven. Two decades without a trophy has built a hunger that one final in Bilbao might finally satisfy.