Champions Cup

Photo: BackpagePix Saracens' Maro Itoje (centre) and Owen Farrell (right) speak to Bristol Bears' Ellis Genge after the Gallagher Premiership at StoneX Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 25, 2023.

Saracens wave red flag at Bulls

Lock Maro Itoje said Saracens will “step up” and back themselves to beat an in-form Vodacom Bulls outfit when the teams clash for the first time in Pretoria on Saturday.

STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 02: Connor Evans of the Stormers tackled by Giovanni Montemauri of Zebre Parma during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Zebre at Danie Craven Stadium on December 02, 2023 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Proud Stormers ‘amped’ to wrestle Tigers

John Dobson has vowed the DHL Stormers will battle with everything they have against a powered-up Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup match on Sunday.

Saracens players Billu Vunipola, Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell

Farrell leads stacked Saracens at Loftus

Owen Farrell returns from injury to captain a Saracens team featuring seven British & Irish Lions for the Champions Cup opening-round match against the Vodacom Bulls.

Leicester's Handre Pollard in action during the Gallagher Premiership match at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Saturday November 11, 2023.

Bok duo sharpen claws for Stormers skirmish

Springboks Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese will both start for Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup opener against the DHL Stormers on Sunday.

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 07: Jake White - Director of Rugby of the Bulls during the Vodacom Bulls training session at Loftus Versfeld, B Field on December 07, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Bulls ‘honoured’ by Saracens stars

Jake White says it is a massive compliment to his project at the Vodacom Bulls that Saracens have brought a star-studded squad for the Champions Cup opener on Saturday.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 30: Flyhalf Jurie Matthee during the DHL Western Province training session at High Performance Centre on May 30, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Stormers pick rookie 10 for Leicester clash

Jurie Matthee will make his DHL Stormers debut in their first clash against the Leicester Tigers in the opening round of the Champions Cup on Sunday.

Photo: Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images

Coetzee back for Bulls

Marcell Coetzee will make his return from suspension when the Vodacom Bulls host three-time champions Saracens in their Champions Cup opener on Saturday.

NANTERRE, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 26: South African flanker Siya Kolisi of Racing 92 in action during the Top 14 match between Racing 92 and Stade Rochelais at Paris La Defense Arena on November 26, 2023 in Nanterre, France.

Stat Attack: What makes Kolisi king

As Siya Kolisi prepares for his first run in the Champions Cup for French club Racing 92, Opta Stats breaks down what makes the loose forward so valuable.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alfio Guarise/INPHO/Shutterstock (14204695h) Benetton Rugby vs DHL Stormers. Head Coach DHL Stormers John Dobson arrives BKT United Rugby Championship, Stadio Monigo, Treviso, Italy - 11 Nov 2023

SA rugby on Euro ‘voyage of discovery’

Playing in European club competitions is more complex for SA teams than it first appeared, but they will become more competitive with increased exposure, writes MARK KEOHANE.

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 25: Jan-Hevndrik Wessels of the Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match between Vodacom Bulls and Connacht at Loftus Versfeld on November 25, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Bulls thumper fired up for Loftus ‘Test’

Jan-Hendrik Wessels is eager to get stuck into Saracens in Pretoria, as the young hooker continues to hone his craft and clock more game time for the @Vodacom Bulls.