Challenging times for Ulster and Connacht

Irish rugby doesn't have a deep and meaningful relationship with the Challenge Cup but with two provinces in the mix it may be a route to salvaging something from the season.

The Champions Cup has been won seven times by Leinster (4), Munster (2) and Ulster(1), while the secondary competition trophy has only visited these shores once, when Leinster claimed the then-Amlin Cup in 2013.

Ulster are just inside the URC play-off cutline with five regular season games to play, while Connacht are a point behind in tenth place.

There are just three points separating the teams occupying spots six to 11 in the standings so it looks like a race that will go down to the wire.

There's no head coach in the Irish system that will come out and say they are going to prioritise one competition over the other but a winning run the Europe would go a long way towards salvaging what has been a disappointing season for both.

It always appears like a winnable trophy for the Irish sides that don't have the European pedigree of Leinster and Munster.

For one, it usually doesn't have either of those teams in the mix, while the pick of the Top14, in particular, and Premiership sides are either involved in the Champions Cup stages or occupied with their domestic duties.

Two tough away challenges face Richie Murphy and Pete Wilkins, the Ulster and Connacht head coaches, to begin with, in the form of Montpellier and Pau.

Both teams qualified for the last 16 after finishing second in their respective pools, each with three wins from four games, while the Irish sides drop down from the Champions Cup.

Ulster opponents Montpellier, winners in 2016 and 2021, are currently second from bottom in the Top14 and although they have a 12-point buffer over Oyonnax, they are