The DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks kept the South African flag flying in the second round of the Investec Champions Cup this past weekend, as they registered vital victories against Stade Rochelais and Saracens, while the Vodacom Bulls succumbed to a heavy defeat against the Northampton Saints in a respectable weekend for South Africa’s teams.
It was a case of disappointment for the Toyota Cheetahs and Lions in the EPCR Challenge Cup once again, as they both suffered their second defeats in a row.
The in-form DHL Stormers kicked off a jam-packed day of rugby on Saturday on a high note as they registered a 42-21 victory against Stade Rochelais in Gqeberha, and the Hollywoodbets Sharks followed suit with a hard-fought 28-23 victory against Saracens in Durban.
The Vodacom Bulls were unable to counter the Northampton Saints’ effective attack in England on Sunday, and were forced to settle for a 50-5 victory.
The Toyota Cheetahs and Lions were unable to bounce back from their first-round defeats in the EPCR Challenge Cup, as the Free Staters went down 45-22 against Stade Francais in Amsterdam, while the Lions were edged 14-10 by the Newcastle Red Bulls in England, where a late try squashed their hopes of earning their first win of the season in the tournament.
The DHL Stormers’ victory saw them top their Investec Champions Cup pool with nine points, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks remain in fifth place in their pool – five points behind the Glasgow Warriors – and the Vodacom Bulls are also in fifth place in their pool, with only one point in their opening two matches.
In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Lions and Toyota Cheetahs currently find themselves in fourth and fifth spots on their tables with one and zero points respectively, meaning they will have to bounce back strongly to sneak their way into the playoff stages when the competition resumes in January.
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship, meanwhile, will continue this weekend and on Saturday, 3 January, with two rounds of local derbies.
On 20 December, Vodacom URC log-leaders, the DHL Stormers, host the Lions at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town at 15h30, and the Hollywoodbets Sharks take on the Vodacom Bulls at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban at 18h00.
In the ninth round of the competition, on 3 January 2026, the Hollywoodbets Sharks meet the Lions in Durban, and the DHL Stormers will welcome the Vodacom Bulls to Cape Town in an exciting start to the new year.