Champions Cup

Rossouw: Lyon implosion part of learning curve

Chris Rossouw views an emphatic Champions Cup defeat at Lyon as an investment in experience that will reap future dividends for the Vodacom Bulls.

Lyons French hooker Guillaume Marchand scores a try during the European Rugby Champions Cup pool A rugby union match between Lyon Olympique Universitaire (LOU) and the Bulls at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon on January 20, 2023. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP)

Lyon avalanche buries Bulls

The Vodacom Bulls lost control of their Champions Cup destiny when they were hammered by a fired-up Lyon at the Stade Gerland on Friday night.

Belfast , United Kingdom - 20 May 2022; Aphelele Fassi of Cell C Sharks makes a break during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Cell C Sharks at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Sharks recall fit-again Fassi

The Sharks team to take on Harlequins in London this weekend in their final pool match of the Champions Cup shows five changes from the side that defeated Bordeaux at Kings Park.

Kade at 10, Roos back for Stormers

The DHL Stormers have named a fresh halfback pair for their decisive Champions Cup clash against Clermont in Cape Town on Saturday night.

Joseph Dweba of Stormers gets his pass away during the United Rugby Championship 2022/23 match between Stormers and Llanelli Scarlets held at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on 25 November 2022

Dweba building up a head of steam

DHL Stormers hooker Joseph Dweba is enjoying the backing he is getting in Cape Town and gathering more and more momentum as the season unfolds.

Hacjivah Dayimani of Stormers on the attack during the United Rugby Championship 2022/23 match between Stormers and Bulls held at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on 23 December 2022

Home playoff ‘critical’ for Stormers in Champions Cup

The carrot of a potential Champions Cup last 16 and quarter-final in Cape Town has the DHL Stormers eager to make the most of their final pool match against Clermont on Saturday night.

Mapimpi handed two-week ban

Makazole Mapimpi will miss the Sharks’ final Champions Cup pool match after being found guilty of reckless contact with the eye area during the match against Bordeaux.

Captain Nemo leads Bulls charge in Lyon

No 8 Nizaam Carr will skipper the Vodacom Bulls against Lyon at Matmut Stadium on Friday night as they look to secure safe passage to the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Bordeaux-Begles vs Cell C Sharks. Cell C Sharks players celebrate winning at the final whistle Heineken Champions Cup Round 2 Pool A, Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France - 16 Dec 2022

URC coaches on how to beat SA teams

There seems to be a growing consensus that the addition of the South African sides to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship has really steeled the European teams for battle.

(13700825s) Dragons vs Vodacom Bulls. Vodacom Bull's Kurt-Lee Arendse makes a break BKT United Rugby Championship, Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales - 06 Jan 2023

O’Driscoll lauds SA impact in Europe

Former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has sung the praises for South Africa’s inclusion in the Champions Cup, as the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers look set to join the Sharks in the playoffs.