21 October 2026
Four South African stars have powered their way into the Investec Champions Cup Team of Week 1.
Teams’ forwards were a big talking point throughout the weekend, with England international Ollie Chessum scoring on his return from injury for Leicester Tigers while Connacht Rugby’s Cian Prendergast dominated opposition attempts at the line with 12 successful tackles.
The Connacht flanker rounded off a superb performance by scoring a brace too in what was a statement win against three-time winners Saracens.
DHL Stormers duo Vernon Matongo and Sazi Sandi prop up 1 and 3 after a dominant scrum showing vs Bristol Bears, and they’re joined by Leinster Rugby’s Dan Sheehan. Known for his try-scoring prowess, Sheehan grabbed two more against ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Munster Rugby’s Fineen Wycherley, Montpellier Hérault Rugby’s Alex Becognée and Vodacom Bulls’ Jeandré Rudolph complete the pack after all starring in their sides’ respective wins in Round 1.
At the back, the talent continues. Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Stephen Varney earns a spot after his side took six-time winners Stade Toulousain all the way, alongside Union Bordeaux Bègles’ Maxime Lucu.
Usually UBB’s go-to 9, Lucu was named to start at fly-half for the first time in his career - a switch he made look seamless.
908 kick metres - including a vital 50:22 - 10 tackles and 9 carries were enough to earn him a spot in the XV.
Section Paloise impressed too and boasts two men in the Round’s top 15. Centre Fabien Brau-Boirie and full-back Théo Attissogbe bolster a stacked back line. Their explosive runs and metre-making ability were a major talking point from their win over Leicester Tigers.
Another metre monster was Vodacom Bulls’ Cheswill Jooste. The young winger made a total of 218 metres in his side’s dominant display against Stade Français Paris as well as scoring a spectacular hat-trick for a perfect Round 1 performance.
Stade Toulousain’s Teddy Thomas joins him on the opposite wing after his thrilling win over Exeter Chiefs.
Full data-based XV of the week, Round 1
1 Vernon Matongo, DHL Stormers - 8.3/10
2 Dan Sheehan, Leinster Rugby - 9.4/10
3 Sazi Sandi, DHL Stormers - 8.8/10
4 Fineen Wycherley, Munster Rugby - 8.7/10
5 Ollie Chessum, Leicester Rugby - 8.9/10
6 Cian Prendergast, Connacht Rugby - 9/10
7 Alex Becognée, Montpellier Hérault Rugby - 8.3/10
8 Jeandré Rudolph, Vodacom Bulls - 8.3/10
9 Stephen Varney, Exeter Chiefs - 9.1/10
10 Maxime Lucu, Union Bordeaux Bègles - 8.8/10
11 Cheswill Jooste, Vodacom Bulls - 9.1/10
12 Fabien Brau-Boirie, Section Paloise - 9.5/10
13 Nick Tompkins, Saracens - 8.7/10
14 Teddy Thomas, Stade Toulousain - 8.9/10
15 Théo Attissogbe, Section Paloise - 8.7/10