While the Stormers will have their sights set on continuing their formidable form this season when they line up against Stade Rochelais in round two of the Champions Cup this weekend, the Sharks, Bulls, Cheetahs, and Lions will be desperate to bounce back from disappointing defeats in their opening matches to stay in the race for the playoffs.
The Stormers will host Stade Rochelais in Gqeberha on Saturday, followed by matches between the Sharks and Saracens in Durban in the Champions Cup, and on Sunday, the Bulls will take on Northampton Saints in England.
In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Toyota Cheetahs take on Stade Francais in Amsterdam, and the Lions face Newcastle in England.
These matches will be crucial in the teams’ playoff hopes, given that the European showpieces consist of only four round-robin matches before the knock-out stages, which begins with the Round of 16.
CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND 2 PREVIEW: STORMERS LEAD SA CHARGE
The Stormers will be wary of their French visitors at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium following their 39-20 victory against the Leicester Tigers last week, which saw the two-time former Champions Cup winners top their table.
That said, the Capetonians have been in red-hot form this season, winning all six of their United Rugby Championship matches, which has seen them remain the only unbeaten team in the competition, while their impressive 26-17 victory against Bayonne in France last week will boost their confidence even more.
In stark contrast to the Stormers, Stade Rochelais find themselves on the lower end of the Top 14 standings after winning only five of their 11 matches so far this season, which will see the Capetonians enter the match as favourites.
The Sharks, meanwhile, will have to be on point when they line up against Saracens at Kings Park, especially with the visitors coming off a comprehensive 47-10 victory against Clermont Auvergne last week, in which they scored an impressive seven tries to outplay the opposition.
The English club are also currently second on the Premiership table after an overwhelming victory against Newcastle at home, meaning the Durbanites will have to deliver an all-round top drawer performance to change their fortunes this season. They have only won one and drew one of their six URC matches before suffering a heavy 56-19 defeat against Toulouse in the Champions Cup last week.
The clash between the Bulls and Northampton Saints is expected to be a thriller, despite the Pretoria side coming off a defeat last week, while the hosts registered a narrow seven-point victory against Pau, as both teams will be looking to hit their straps after struggling to build dominant form in the last few weeks.
The Saints, however, will draw inspiration from the fact that they have won three of their last four games in Northampton, and they will have the luxury of their home crowd and cold conditions counting in their favour.
They are, however, expected to face tough competition against the visitors who could have toppled the defending Champions Cup champs, Bordeaux Begles, last weekend in Pretoria, had two second-half yellow cards not disrupted their momentum after leading 33-22 at halftime.
CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 2 PREVIEW
In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Cheetahs will look to build on their decent second-half showing against the Exeter Chiefs last week, which limited the English side to only one try after the break despite suffering a defeat, when they line up against Stade Francais in Amsterdam on Saturday.
But the Free Staters will have to be much more effective on defence and use their chances on attack to keep alive their hopes of securing a victory against the French outfit, who registered a convincing victory against Cardiff last week, and who are currently in fourth place on the Top 14 table after winning six of their 11 matches this season.
The Lions will also back themselves to give the Newcastle Red Bulls a go when they meet at Kingston Park on Saturday, after a costly yellow card in the closing minutes of their clash against Benetton last week dashed their hopes of victory in their EPCR Challenge Cup opener.
The Johannesburg outfit have had a decent season so far, suffering only three defeats in the URC – one of which was by a narrow two points – but they have shown that they have what it takes to deliver the desired results when they hit their straps with morale-boosting victories against the Bulls, Ulster and the Scarlets in the last few weeks.
Newcastle, who beat Lyon 23-14 last week, have been struggling to find momentum after suffering five defeats in their previous six matches before last week. This should set the scene for a gripping match-up.
URC ACTION IN SOUTH AFRICA LATER THIS MONTH
After this weekend’s European clashes, the United Rugby Championship returns with two rounds of exciting South African derbies on Saturday, 20 December, and Saturday, 3 January.
On 20 December, URC log-leaders the Stormers will take on the Lions at the Stadium in Cape Town at 15h30, and the Sharks will host the Bulls at Kings Park at 18h00.
In the ninth round of the competition, on 3 January 2026, the Sharks meet the Lions in Durban, and the Stormers will welcome the Bulls to Cape Town in an exciting start to the new year.
MATCH INFORMATION
Champions Cup: Stormers, Bulls And Sharks
Stormers v Stade Rochelais
Date: Saturday, 13 December 2025
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
SA Time: 15h00
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
TV: SuperSport
Sharks v Saracens
Date: Saturday, 13 December 2025
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 17h15
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
TV: SuperSport
Northampton Saints v Bulls
Date: Sunday, 14 December 2025
Venue: Cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens, England
SA Time: 17h15
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TV: SuperSport
EPCR Challenge Cup: Cheetahs And Lions
Cheetahs v Stade Francais
Date: Saturday, 13 December 2025
Venue: NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
SA Time: 15h00
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
TV: SuperSport
Newcastle v Lions
Date: Saturday, 13 December 2025
Venue: Kingston Park, Newcastle
SA Time: 19h30
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France)
TV: SuperSport
United Rugby Championship (Rounds 7 and 9): Stormers, Bulls, Lions And Sharks
Stormers v Lions
Date: Saturday, 20 December 2025
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 15h30
Referee: TBC
TV: SuperSport
Sharks v Bulls
Date: Saturday, 20 December 2025
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 18h00
Referee: TBC
TV: SuperSport
Sharks v Lions
Date: Saturday, 3 January 2026
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 15h30
Referee: TBC
TV: SuperSport
Stormers v Bulls
Date: Saturday, 3 January 2026
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 18h00
Referee: TBC
TV: SuperSport
