Gloucester vs Cardiff Blues LIVE: European Challenge Cup final latest score and updates
Follow the latest from the European Challenge Cup final in Bilbao
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Your support makes all the difference.The European Challenge Cup final sees Premiership side Gloucester attempt to win the tournament for the third time, but a resurgent Cardiff Blues stand in their way at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
After seeing off Newcastle Falcons in their semi-final, Gloucester will feature in their third final in four years, having won the Challenge Cup back in 2015 in defeating Edinburgh before losing out to Stade Francais last year.
The Cherry & Whites ended their Premiership campaign last weekend in disappointment as they were heavily beaten by Saracens, which allowed rivals Bath to pinch sixth place off them and qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. However, given that Leinster and Racing 92 – the two Champions Cup finalists – have already qualified as well as Cardiff, Gloucester are guaranteed a place in next year’s tournament regardless of this result.
But while Gloucester finished their domestic campaign with a whimper, Cardiff are very much on the up. A landslide victory over the Southern Kings was followed by the Champions Cup semi-final win over Pau, and although rounded off the season with a narrow 26-23 defeat by the Ospreys, they were still able to claim one of the six automatic qualification berths for the Champions Cup.
Follow the live action below...
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What time does it start?
The European Challenge Cup final kicks off at 20:00 BST [21:00 CET] on Friday 11 May.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 19:15 BST and Sky Sports Action from 19:30 BST.
Teams
Gloucester: Jason Woodward; Tom Marshall, Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Henry Trinder; Billy Burns, Callum Braley; Josh Hohneck, James Hanson, John Afoa; Ed Slater, Mariano Galarza; Jake Polledri, Lewis Ludlow, Ruan Ackermann
Replacements: Motu Matu'u, Val Rapava Ruskin, Fraser Balmain, Freddie Clarke, Ben Morgan, Ben Vellacott, Andy Symons, Tom Hudson
Cardiff Blues: Gareth Anscombe; Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Blaine Scully; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Taufa'ao Filise; Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull; Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Scott Andrews, Damian Welch, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan
Odds
Gloucester to win: 5/6
Cardiff Blues to win: 11/8
Draw (after 80 minutes): 25/1
Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the European Challenge Cup final between Cardiff Blues and Gloucester, brought to you from pitchside at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Cardiff Blues will be without their captain, Gethin Jenkins, this evening as the veteran Wales prop failed to recover from the calf injury that he suffered last weekend, while Sam Warburton is of course absent having been ruled out for the entire season with injuries. Here's a look at the two teams in a bit more detail:
The final will also represent the last time that Danny Wilson takes charge of the Blues, with the highly-rated coach set to leave next month. Sam Peters took a closer look at Wilson this week, and why his departure is not good news for the Blues:
Here's how the two sides line up this evening:
Cardiff Blues: Gareth Anscombe; Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Blaine Scully; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Taufa'ao Filise; Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull; Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Brad Thyer, Scott Andrews, Damian Welch, Olly Robinson, Lloyd Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan.
Gloucester: Jason Woodward; Tom Marshall, Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Henry Trinder; Billy Burns, Callum Braley; Josh Hohneck, James Hanson, John Afoa; Ed Slater, Mariano Galarza; Jake Polledri, Lewis Ludlow, Ruan Ackermann.
Replacements: Motu Matu'u, Val Rapava Ruskin, Fraser Balmain, Freddie Clarke, Ben Morgan, Ben Vellacott, Andy Symons, Tom Hudson.
Just minutes to go until the teams emerge, and the Challenge Cup trophy is brought out to great applause to take centre stage in front of the San Mames pitch.
All four stands are starting to fill up with fans of all clubs here in Bilbao, and although it will not be the sell-out that's expected for tomorrow's main event, there's still an expectation that more than 27,000 supporters will be at tonight's game. It's certainly starting to look busy.
And here come the teams! A huge roar goes up around the San Mames Stadium as the two sides emerge.
3 mins: A good start for Gloucester gets them into Cardiff's half, and forces scrum-half Tomos Williams to kick possession away. Gloucester then come up with the error as they knock the ball forwards, and Williams is able to steal it and win the penalty. Jarrod Evans will take a shot at goal.
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