Challenge Cup Semifinals - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: The final four in the Challenge Cup will battle it out this weekend for a date at the big dance in Bilbao on May 22.

The action starts at Affidea Stadium in Belfast, where Ulster hosts Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Both teams come off back-to-back defeats in their respective leagues, but Ulster will bank on home advantage to advance to the Final.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy made 14 changes for this clash, with fullback Mike Lowry the only survivor from the side that went down to Munster a week ago.

Continues below..

Richie Murphy and Hendy spoke to the media this week ahead of Saturday’s semi-final 👊

Watch here 👉 https://t.co/rkeplhLGaz pic.twitter.com/cuIrLV3ixo

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) April 30, 2026

Exeter Director of Rugby Rob Baxter said: “This weekend is going to be a pretty big challenge. At their stadium, I imagine with a good crowd in, and after they rested and rotated a lot last week to prepare for this game, we’re expecting a pretty full-blooded, tough game of rugby.

“That’s what it should be, though. That’s why you want to qualify for these competitions and why you work hard to get to semifinals and finals.”

Baxter added: “Ulster will certainly be expecting to set the physicality of the game early.

“They will think they can boss large areas of the game, but my expectation is that we will turn up and set a different level of intensity at the start of the game to make it a very competitive encounter.”

On Sunday, the surprise package of the competition, the Dragons, will travel to Septeo Stadium to face two-time former Challenge Cup holders Montpellier.

It will be the biggest challenge for Filo Tiatia’s team, who showed an upward curve in performances despite not always getting the results in the United Rugby Championship, pushing top teams like the Stormers and Lions and recently pipped Zebre away from home.

Dragons head Coach Filo Tiatia has called on his Dragons to embrace a first semifinal appearance for the club in a decade.

“The boys are looking forward to this game – as they should be. It’s exciting what is ahead of us,” Tiatia said.

“I watched Montpellier play Bordeaux last weekend, and they played well.

“They’ve got some big carriers, very similar to the Bulls, and they’ve got a very good mauling forward pack. They love getting in the 22 and being direct.

“They’ve also got backs that can strike from anywhere, so they’re a good side.

“The outcome will be the outcome against Montpelier,” he added.

“We understand the task ahead of us, and you’re playing on their home turf. We are going into their town, we’re going to be in front of their crowd and their supporters, and they’ll be screaming against us.

“We’re in for a challenge, but we’re up for getting over there and imposing our game. We’re looking forward to that.”

Montpellier will be aware of these threats, with the Dragons posing some of the best defensive numbers across all competitions this season, signalling they won’t be a team that goes away.

*See all teams and predictions below!

 

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Saturday, May 2

Ulster v Exeter Chiefs
(Affidea Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 17.30 BST; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Ulster by six points

Teams

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Zac Ward, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Sam Crean
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Charlie Irvine, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Ben Hammersley, 14 Campbell Ridl, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Steve Varney, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 2 Max Norey, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Rus Tuima, 20 Finn Worley-Brady, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Nick Lilley

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (France), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Sunday, May 3

Montpellier v Dragons RFC
(Septeo Stadium, Montpellier – Kick-off: 13.30 CEST; 12.30 BST; 11.30 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Montpellier by 15 points

Teams

Montpellier: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Donovan Taofifenua, 13 Auguste Cadot, 12 Lennox Anyanwu, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Thomas Vincent, 9 Alexis Bernadet, 8 Lenni Nouchi (captain), 7 Alex Becognee, 6 Marco Tauleigne, 5 Tyler DuGuid, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Valentin Welsch, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Baptiste Erdocio
Replacements: 16 Lyam Akrab, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Yacouba Camara, 20 Alex Masibaka, 21 Tom Baraer, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Thomas Darmon

Dragons RFC: 15 Angus O’Brien (captain), 14 Dai Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Christian Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Jac Lloyd, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Huw Anderson

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Filippo Russo (Italy)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)