The DHL Stormers are set to face Aviron Bayonnais in their Investec Champions Cup season opener today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at the Stade Jean Dauger in Bayonne, France. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 (SA Time).
The Stormers enter the match with significant momentum, boasting a perfect 6 wins from 6 record at the top of the URC (United Rugby Championship) standings, including a resilient comeback win against Munster last week. Bayonnais are fifth in the French Top 14 league and have a strong home record, remaining unbeaten in front of their home supporters this season.
The match is expected to be an aerial battle, with Bayonnais excelling in kick retention and the Stormers favouring an attacking kicking game. Bayonne led the EPCR Challenge Cup statistics last year by retaining 20.7% of their kicks and 13.3% of their restarts.
The DHL Stormers had the highest ruck speed in the competition last season, and they also like to kick when on attack, with a competition-high average of 8.8 attacking kicks per game.
The Stormers have been boosted by the return of Springbok forwards Ben-Jason Dixon and Zachary Porthen, while prop Ntuthuko Mchunu will make his debut off the bench. However, key Springboks Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Cobus Reinach have returned to South Africa for rest after their national duties. Bayonne's side includes former Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, who has been a key player in their recent victories.
Teams:
Aviron Bayonnais: 15 Yohan Orabe, 14 Tom Spring, 13 Cheikh Tiberghien, 12 Federico Mori, 11 Victor Hannoun, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Nika Lomidze, 7 Arthur Iturria, 6 Alexandre Fischer, 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 2 Vincent Giudicelli, 1 Ignacio Calles. Replacements: 16 Lucas Martin, 17 Swan Cormenier, 18 Pascal Cotet, 19 Manex Ariceta, 20 Facundo Bosch, 21 Raphael Marchesin, 22 Baptiste Tilloles, 23 Arnaud Erbinartegaray
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Jonathan Roche.