The Sharks know exactly what they need to do to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup playoffs following Ulster’s 52-24 win against Exeter on Friday night. The five log points Ulster picked up were their first in Pool 1 and took them level on log points with the Sharks, who play Bordeaux at the Stade Chaban-Delmas
John Dobson and Evan Roos have acknowledged the “massive task” that awaits the Stormers on Saturday, as they aim to qualify for the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup. The Stormers will progress to the playoffs of the EPCR competition with a win against Racing 92 in Paris, and if other results go their
Sharks coach John Plumtree says playing Bordeaux Begles at the intimidating Stade Chaban-Delmas will be a “big test” for his team. Bordeaux are currently top of both the French Top 14 and Pool 1 in the Champions Cup, with convincing wins against Leicester (42-28), Ulster (40-19) and Exeter (69-17) in the latter. They’re averaging four
Sharks coach John Plumtree has made several changes to his backline for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup match against Bordeaux Begles at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Grant Williams and Siya Masuku will start as the halfback pairing in place of the Hendrikse brothers, Jaden and Jordan (who is injured), while Yaw Penxe shifts to fullback. Eduan Keyter
Bath head coach Johann van Graan has hailed the “heart and soul” coaching qualities of Leinster defence guru Jacques Nienaber as the two South African coaches prepare to go head-to-head in the Investec Champions Cup this week. In Dublin on Saturday, Van Graan’s English Premiership log leaders will come up against Jacques Nienaber’s Leinster, four-time
Ruan Nortje is eager to pick up where he left off in 2024, as the Springbok and Vodacom Bulls lock gears up to make his comeback from a two-month injury lay-off this week. Nortje, who has been sidelined since November with a serious hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Boks’ end-of-year tour, is
Phepsi Buthelezi admits the Sharks will “have our work cut out for us” against Bordeaux on Sunday. The Sharks go into their final Investec Champions Cup pool fixture on the back of a 20-8 home defeat to Toulouse. The best John Plumtree’s team can hope for now is to stay fourth in the six-team pool,
Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will boost the Stormers squad when the double World Cup-winning Springbok joins the team ahead of the 2025-26 season. The experienced Reinach, who has 39 caps to his name, will make his return to South Africa at the end of the current season having played in England and France for the last
Ben Loader and Dawie Snyman have acknowledged the threat of one of their own, Hacjivah Dayimani, when the Stormers and Racing 92 clash in Paris on Saturday. Fresh off a huge result in Cape Town, the Stormers will look to secure a last 16 spot in the Investec Champions Cup when they face the French
The Sharks have full control of their playoff hopes going into the final round of pool fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup this week. John Plumtree’s charges, along with the Stormers, are still in the race to the Champions Cup last 16 spots, but the Vodacom Bulls’ hopes of advancing to
Two quick-fire tries by tank Thomas du Toit helped Bath clinch a convincing win over Clermont in the Investec Champions Cup on Sunday, while his Springbok teammates shone in Japan’s League One. Champions CupDu Toit was named man of the match for his brace in another dominant display as Bath beat Clermont 40-21 at the
An already juicy 2025 Test schedule is set for a significant upgrade as the Springboks are reportedly in line to face Ireland in Dublin in November. While the schedule has yet to be officially confirmed, Rapport has learned that the world champions will take on Wales in Cardiff on 1 November, France in Paris on
