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.
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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
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