RC Toulon can boast considerable European pedigree, having won the Heineken Champions Cup on three occasions between 2013 and 2015, whereas Friday’s clash will be a first European final for Bristol Bears.

The English club 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 the 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)

This season’s European Rugby Challenge Cup final on Friday night will feature two sides in Bristol Bears and RC Toulon who go in search of a first success in the competition.