11 October 2026
The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers delivered dominant performances to outclass their local rivals in a gripping round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies on Saturday.
The results shattered the two-match winning streaks of the 10bet Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks, triggering a major shake-up on the log. With these outcomes, all four South African franchises now hold identical records of two wins and one defeat from their opening three matches. Both winning franchises successfully leapfrogged their domestic counterparts to claim the top spots among the South African shield.
The Vodacom Bulls hit top gear at Loftus Versfeld, powering their way to a classy 57-15 victory against the 10bet Lions. The Pretoria outfit showcased sublime form, exposing defensive fractures to cross the whitewash repeatedly. This clinical display inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on the Lions, who struggled to handle the hosts' relentless attacking intensity.
In Cape Town, the DHL Stormers flexed their muscles to outplay the Hollywoodbets Sharks 39-22. The Cape side controlled the gainline collisions and dictated the tempo to neutralise the visitors' offensive threats. The result brought the Durban franchise crashing back to earth, handing them their first blemish of the competition after a promising start.
These results caused a dramatic shift in the overall United Rugby Championship standings. The Vodacom Bulls now occupy third place, with the DHL Stormers sitting just one position below in fourth. Both coastal and inland heavyweights sit tied on 11 log points, closely followed by the Sharks in fifth and the Lions in seventh.
Scottish outfits Edinburgh and the Glasgow Warriors currently pace the competition, remaining the only unbeaten teams after three rounds. The South African franchises must now rapidly switch focus to the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup next week. Continental action takes centre stage in the European showpieces before domestic URC rivalries resume in a fortnight.
