Summary

  • FT: Harlequins 19-26 Montpellier

  • French Top 14 side Montpellier win the European Challenge Cup

  • Conor O'Shea's last game in charge of Quins ends in defeat

  • Two Jesse Mogg tries for Montpellier, Marland Yarde reply for Quins

  1. Harlequins 0-0 Montpellierpublished at 4 mins

    Bit sloppy from Quins off the line-out but they've retained possession.

    Montpellier then pinged at the ruck and I think Nick Evans might well take the tee here...

  2. Harlequins 0-0 Montpellierpublished at 3 mins

    Penalty goes Quins way off the scrum, and Nick Evans just plants it into touch.

    Set-piece on the way in the 22.

  3. Harlequins 0-0 Montpellierpublished at 1 mins

    Knock-on off the first box-kick by Montpellier and the reward is a scrum head and feed for the Quins.

    First test for their pack and for Brian Moore's prediction too...

  4. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbcrugbypublished at 1 mins

    Harlequins 0-0 Montpellier

    It's probably no surprise to hear where a certain former England hooker reckons this final will be decided...

  5. Kick-offpublished at 0 mins

    Harlequins 0-0 Montpellier

    John Lacey blows the whistle and Montpellier get us under way.

    Here. We. Go.

  6. Here we gopublished at 20:03

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    A fine, wonderfully observed minute's silence. No anthems though!

    Kick-off upon us.

  7. Smoke, fireworks... a final!published at 20:01

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    The two teams filter out of the tunnel as smoke and fireworks explode before them. The trophy stands shining in the floodlights.

    This might be the second-tier competition in Europe but the rewards are great and it is silverware after all.

    Time for some anthems, but first a poignant and emotional minute's silence for Seb Adeniran-Olule.

  8. The teams are on their waypublished at 19:59

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Players preparing to emerge from the tunnel. The stage is magnificent. Pitch looks marvellous, weather following suit.

    Much is promised over the next 80 minutes. Let's go.

  9. On the wingspublished at 19:58

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    There's some heavy duty quality on the flanks for both sides...

    Montpellier have Top 14 leading try-scorer Timoci Nagusa backed up on the opposite flank by Marvin O'Connor. They've 22 tries between them.

    As for Harlequins - Marland Yarde can play his part and give England coach Eddie Jones something to think about tonight. Tim Visser is a fine finisher too.

    Mouthwatering stuff.

  10. Ready to gopublished at 19:55

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Nervous? Or just excited for a cracking final?

    Either way, we're not far off now.

    Let's have a look at a few match-ups...

  11. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbcrugbypublished at 19:54

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

  12. Ben Botica - a man for recordspublished at 19:52

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Ben BoticaImage source, Getty Images

    Ben Botica, the son of dual-code legend Frano, has a few seasons' bests in this competition to his name.

    The Quins stand-off is top with 18 conversions, 28 defenders beaten, most points with 74 and just to show nobody's perfect - he missed nine conversions too.

    Can he add to those records tonight? He'll have to do so from the bench as it's Danny Care and Nick Evans starting in the halves.

  13. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbcrugbypublished at 19:50

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    @bbcrugbyunion on TwitterImage source, @bbcrugbyunion

    So then, which way you do you see this European Challenge Cup final going? Will Montpellier be majestic or will Harlequins be handsome? And how will you remember Conor O'Shea's six years in charge of Harlequins?

    As always, you can get in touch with us as the evening progresses by using #bbcrugby on Twitter.

    And, of course, if you're not doing so already please make sure you give @bbcrugbyunion, external a follow for all the latest news from the world of rugby union. It's a no brainer, I'd say.

  14. England v France - part onepublished at 19:46

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    By twist of fate, both the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup finals will be contested by English and French teams.

    Quins can give the Premiership a boost with victory against Top 14 title chasers Montpellier tonight, while reigning domestic champions Saracens take on star-studded Racing Metro 92 tomorrow.

    You can follow that game here on BBC Sport as well.

  15. Route to the final: Montpellierpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 13 May 2016

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Montpellier route to the finalImage source, BBC Sport

    Montpellier's path to the final has taken them through Premiership and Pro12 opposition, with an impressive away win against Sale Sharks in the quarter-finals a highlight.

    They shared a win apiece with their opponents tonight in Pool Three en route to the knock-out stages, but lost an extra game to concede top spot to them in the table.

    However, progress past Steve Diamond's Sharks handed the Herault side a home tie with Newport-Gwent Dragons, who were beaten in the south of France to ensure the ticket to Lyon would have Montpellier's name on it.

  16. Route to the final: Harlequinspublished at 19:41

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Harlequins route to the final

    Harlequins know all about their opponents having battled them in the group stages, hammering the Top 14 outfit in 41-18 their competition opener and then losing heavily in France by 42-9.

    Wins in between against Cardiff and Calvisano ensured progress to the knock-out stages, where London Irish were eliminated to book a last-four spot.

    Grenoble stood between the Quins and a place in the final but the French side were eventually blown away at The Stoop to keep alive hopes of silverware.

  17. Can Quins extend their record?published at 19:37

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Harlequins holding the 2011 Challenge Cup aloftImage source, Getty Images

    2001, 2004 and 2011. Harlequins have won the competition more times than any other club, with three wins.

    Not even Clermont Auvergne can match that, having also featured in three finals.

    Four wins would take them clear in their record.

  18. On the wirelesspublished at 19:34

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    As well as following this text feed, you can also listen to live radio commentary of tonight's Challenge Cup final - on both BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and BBC Radio London.

    Just pop up to the audio icon or 'Live Coverage' tab to tune in.

  19. RIP Seb Adeniran-Olulepublished at 19:29

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    Seb Adeniran-OluleImage source, Getty Images

    There was a sombre note this week amidst the excitement of Harlequins' impending European final, with the news that prop Seb Adeniran-Olule was killed in a road traffic collision, aged just 20.

    Adeniran-Olule will be remembered tonight with a minutes silence before the match, while the Quins players will wear black armbands.

    The England Under-20 international made three appearances for the first-grade side at The Stoop, and his memory will be a huge inspiration for the players in Lyon tonight.

    "They will be playing with huge motives," director of rugby Conor O'Shea told BBC Sport.

    "What happened on Monday was heartbreaking. They are going to play with Seb in their hearts."

    Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

    Harlequins have marked Seb's passing with his initials on their shirts.Image source, Getty Images
  20. Team newspublished at 19:27

    Harlequins v Montpellier (20:00 BST)

    World Cup-winning coach Jake White leads Top 14 side Montpellier in their first European final.

    The French club include Bismark Du Plessis, Jannie Du Plessis and Francois Steyn, who were all part of the South Africa side which won the 2007 World Cup.

    Montpellier teamImage source, BBC Sport

    Replacements: Ivaldi, Watremez, Kubriashvili, Timani, Galletier, Paillaugue, Ebersohn, Mogg.