The Stormers and Sharks kept the South African flag flying in the second round of the Champions Cup this past weekend, as they registered vital victories against La Rochelle and Saracens respectively.
The in-form Stormers kicked off a jam-packed day of rugby on Saturday on a high note as they registered a 42-21 victory, while the Sharks bounced back from a run of poor form to claim a hard-fought and much-needed 28-23 win in Durban.
However, there is trouble brewing for the Bulls as they were unable to counter the Northampton Saints’ effective attack in England on Sunday, and were forced to settle for a 50-5 victory.
The Stormers’ victory saw them top their Champions Cup pool with nine points, while the Sharks remain in fifth place in their pool – five points behind the Glasgow Warriors – and the Bulls are also in fifth place in their pool, with only one point in their opening two matches.
This weekend the URC will return, but it’s worth taking note of just how things look on the Champions Cup table now.
CHAMPIONS CUP STANDINGS
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The 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.
In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Lions and 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 United Rugby Championship, meanwhile, will continue this weekend and on Saturday, 3 January, with two rounds of local derbies.
On 20 December, URC log-leaders, the Stormers, host the Lions at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town at 15:30, and the Sharks take on the Bulls at Kings Park in Durban at 18:00.
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.
