One of the most thrilling Encounter in Ultimate Rugby Championship history will reach its conclusion on Saturday.
With Bristol Bears and RC Toulon securing spots in next month’s European Rugby Challenge Cup final at the weekend, we have taken a look at their respective routes to Stade Maurice-David for the showpiece clash.
Bristol marched to the top of Pool 4 with five wins and a draw from their six matches, securing the No.2 seeding as a result. Comfortable wins over Zebre Rugby Club and Brive were backed up by back-to-back successes over former Challenge Cup winners Stade Francais Paris.
A comprehensive 52-3 win over Brive in Round 5 and a tense 7-7 draw at Zebre in their final pool stage match secured a home quarter-final, one they dominated against Dragons, running out 56-17 winners at Ashton Gate.
They would stay in Bristol for their semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles, in a match played over 100 minutes after the sides were locked at 20-20 after normal time. It was Bristol who proved stronger in the extra time period, with tries from Piers O’Conor and Max Malins helping them secure a 37-20 win and a spot in next month’s final.
RC Toulon’s run to the final was even smoother, winning all eight matches as the three-time Champions Cup winners go in search of a first Challenge Cup title.
They had to grind out 20-13 and 17-16 wins over Bayonne and Scarlets respectively in the opening two rounds, before recording comfortable back-to-back victories over London Irish.
Toulon then ran out 12-point winners over Scarlets in Llanelli before putting 50 points on Bayonne in a superb Round 6 performance, one that secured the No.1 seeding.
RC Toulon's New Zealand wing Bryce Heem in a try against Leicester Tigers With Bristol Bears and RC Toulon securing spots in next month’s European Rugby Challenge Cup final at the weekend, we have taken a look at their respective routes to Stade Maurice-David for the showpiece clash.
Bristol marched to the top of Pool 4 with five wins and a draw from their six matches, securing the No.2 seeding as a result. Comfortable wins over Zebre Rugby Club and Brive were backed up by back-to-back successes over former Challenge Cup winners Stade Francais Paris.
A comprehensive 52-3 win over Brive in Round 5 and a tense 7-7 draw at Zebre in their final pool stage match secured a home quarter-final, one they dominated against Dragons, running out 56-17 winners at Ashton Gate.
They would stay in Bristol for their semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles, in a match played over 100 minutes after the sides were locked at 20-20 after normal time. It was Bristol who proved stronger in the extra time period, with tries from Piers O’Conor and Max Malins helping them secure a 37-20 win and a spot in next month’s final.
RC Toulon’s run to the final was even smoother, winning all eight matches as the three-time Champions Cup winners go in search of a first Challenge Cup title.
They had to grind out 20-13 and 17-16 wins over Bayonne and Scarlets respectively in the opening two rounds, before recording comfortable back-to-back victories over London Irish.
Toulon then ran out 12-point winners over Scarlets in Llanelli before putting 50 points on Bayonne in a superb Round 6 performance, one that secured the No.1 seeding.
They would do battle again with Scarlets in the last eight, this time coming from 6-0 down to earn a narrow 11-6 win with Sergio Parisse’s try proving the difference between the two sides.
The French side had a more comfortable last four tie, seeing off Leicester Tigers 34-19 at Stade Felix Mayol with tries from Bryce Heem, Facundo Isa and a brace from Gabin Villiere settling matters inside 65 minutes.
BRISTOL BEARS v RC TOULON – Friday 16 October
Stade Maurice-David, Aix-en-Provence (20:00 UK and Irish time)