Ulster Rugby secured a 29-12 victory against Exeter Chiefs on May 2, 2026, in Belfast, marking their first European final appearance since 2012. The win came in the semi-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The match started slowly, remaining scoreless until the 27th minute. Ulster broke the deadlock with a try from Juarno Augustus. They went on to score four tries in total, while Exeter managed two.
Key match statistics:
- Ulster scored four tries to Exeter’s two.
- Final score: Ulster 29, Exeter 12.
- Nathan Doak contributed a penalty and three conversions for Ulster.
Ulster’s additional tries came from Jack Murphy, Dave McCann, and Tom Stewart. For Exeter, Ross Vintcent and Campbell Ridl crossed the line for their team.
Richie Murphy praised his team’s performance, stating, “I thought our second half was incredible. We were really good and clinical.” In contrast, Exeter’s coach Rob Baxter noted that despite the scoreline, it didn’t feel as non-competitive as it suggested but acknowledged that mistakes were costly.
This victory is significant for Ulster Rugby, who have not won a trophy in twenty years. Their last title was the Celtic League in 2006. They will face either Montpellier or Dragons in the final on May 22.
