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Bilbao to Host European Rugby Finals Again After 2018 Success

The San Mamés stadium will host the decisive matches of the Champions and Challenge Cup on May 22nd and 23rd.

Generic image of a rugby ball on green grass, with a blurred stadium in the background.
IA

Generic image of a rugby ball on green grass, with a blurred stadium in the background.

Bilbao is set to welcome the European rugby finals back to San Mamés on May 22nd and 23rd, featuring the decisive matches of the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup.

The San Mamés stadium will once again become a focal point for rugby enthusiasts, hosting the finals of Europe's two premier club competitions. On Saturday, May 23rd, at 3:45 PM, Union Bordeaux Begles and Leinster will clash in the Champions Cup final. The French team, current champions, will aim to defend their title against an Irish opponent that has previously lifted a trophy in Bilbao during the 2018 edition.
Indeed, Leinster secured their fourth and most recent European trophy in the 2018 finals, also held in Bilbao. They triumphed over Racing 92 in a try-less match, showcasing defensive prowess, which concluded with a narrow 15-12 score. All points were scored through penalty kicks.
Meanwhile, the Challenge Cup final will take place on Friday, May 22nd, at 9:00 PM, pitting Irish side Ulster against French club Montpellier Herault. Both teams earned their tickets to Bilbao by winning their respective semi-final matches: Ulster defeated English team Exeter Chiefs (29-12), and Montpellier overcame Welsh side Dragons RFC (18-12).
The 2018 edition was a resounding success, with approximately 84,000 people attending matches at San Mamés. At that time, an attendance record for a Challenge Cup match was set, with 32,000 spectators. More significantly, the Champions match drew 52,282 fans, a record that still stands at San Mamés, as no Athletic Club match has managed to surpass it.

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