The Bulls continue to be a betrayal to their DNA. They were shameful defensively against a Bristol Bears team that was no better defensively but so much more lethal on attack, writes Mark Keohane.

The Bulls conceded 61 points to a Bristol team, who missed 50 tackles in 184 attempts.

The Bulls missed 27 tackles from 128, but conceded 18 line breaks to the 17 made.

The difference was every second time the Bears made a line break they seemed to score, whereas the Bulls wasted so many opportunities in a match that they always looked capable of winning, despite the charitable defence and the horrors in decision-making.

For any neutral who loves tries, does not care for defence or a set piece and books their Sevens Carnival Tickets a year in advance, this was the stuff of rugby heaven.

The Bulls made 778 metres on attack and Bristol 573 and the Bulls beat 51 defenders and the Bears 27.

For those who appreciate the quality of the Investec Champions Cup, the quality that defines defensive lords of a try line, this was like watching something from another league.

There were 16 tries scored, but there were about 16 effective tackles made in the 80 minutes.

Bristol scored nine tries and the Bulls scored seven, but the hosts were always chasing a game after conceding three tries and 21 points in the first eight minutes.

Altitude and fatigue looked to have done a dirty on the Bears on 35 minutes, with them leading 42-28 but with the legs much weaker than the scoreboard.

The Bulls attacked with a minute to go, but another mistake from one of the leaders in the Bulls, this time flyhalf Handre Pollard, led to an intercept and an 80 metre Bristol try. It was a 14 point swing, not the first of the match, and that proved decisive in the final five minutes when the Bulls were denied two tries through an ankle tap and being held up on the try line.

The Bulls’ game management, like their defence, was non existent. How so many quality Springboks, 10 members of the current world champion and No 1 Springboks, look so inept, disinterested and devoid of desire on defence is not so much a mystery but a confirmation that playing for the Bulls right now is getting a salary and playing for the Boks is getting a legacy.

The most senior Boks failed themselves and the Bulls once again in the most naive and humiliating manner.

It is one thing for a bunch of kids to make such rookie mistakes but to see some of the most experienced players in Springboks history, double World Cup winners, so comfortably show a disregard for the principles of defence and attack, was numbing.

KEO & ZELS: GETTING IT SO WRONG WITH THE BULLS

Something is rotten in Pretoria and at Loftus.

SA RUGBY MAG REPORTS ON BRISTOLS WIN V BULLS

It has to be when a team can so easily concede on average 50-plus points in their last three home matches.

The Bulls, in all competitions, have lost seven in a row.

Bristol are on a seven-match winning streak.

INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP MATCH CENTRE: BULLS & BRISTOL TEAM & INDIVIDUAL MATCH STATS

AFRICA PICKS: CASHING IN OR CRASHING. WHAT WAS YOUR RESULT?

The Bulls travel to France to play PAU next weekend to determine who finishes fifth in the Pool Stages.

The Bulls have lost all three round robin matches, two at home, in the Investec Champions Cup.

The worst “points conceded at Loftus Versfeld” stack up (Super Rugby / URC / Investec Champions Cup), from highest to lowest, based on match reports / match-centre sources

1) Crusaders 62 – Bulls 24 (Super Rugby)

• Date: 6 May 2017
• Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Why it matters: This is the heaviest “points-against” number at Loftus in the pro era across the comps you named. ESPN’s match report notes the Crusaders scored 10 tries in the 62–24 win. ESPN.com

2) Bristol Bears 61 – Bulls 49 (Investec Champions Cup)

• Date: 10 January 2026
• Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Why it matters: This is now the worst Bulls concession at Loftus in the Champions Cup (and second-highest overall on this Loftus-only list). SuperSport+2Rugby365+2

3) Bordeaux-Bègles 46 – Bulls 33 (Investec Champions Cup)

• Date: 6 December 2025
• Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Why it matters: Before Bristol’s 61, this was the big Champions Cup damage at Loftus in the current cycle. Rugby365

Bath’s South African Director of Rugby, Johann van Graan, promised that this would be the season the club made a statement in the Investec Champions Cup. They delivered on that promise in France on Friday night by defeating Castres.

Bath, the reigning EPCR Challenge Cup and English Premiership champions, were brutal in their destruction of the hosts, securing a convincing bonus-point win.

The English side scored six tries in what ended up being a statement performance on the road.

They clearly put the disappointment of their Round 2 defeat to RC Toulon behind them as they were back to their best in Castres.

Despite going behind early on and then again soon after, Johann van Graan’s men proved too strong as they limited the French side to just three points in the second half.

“I’m really happy with our cohesiveness”, Van Graan said post-match.

“We stuck to our plan, played against the wind in the second half, we defended our line really, really well.”

The coach went on to recognise the importance of a six-try showing:

“Getting that bonus point is massive”, he said.

It was a feeling shared by Investec Player of the Match Alfie Barbeary, who was equally delighted with the five points.

“It’s a big competition and every point is crucial”, he said.

“To get a bonus point here is huge.

“You need that extra point, especially if you look at the group there’s some fierce competition there.”

Fly-half Finn Russell had a solid game from 10 as he kicked over 13 points despite some challenging conditions.

“It was great to get the five points”, the Scot started.

“We didn’t start off that well conceding a try and a couple of yellow cards, but the performance was good.

“Coming away to Castres is one of the hardest places to go, so it was good that the boys dug in and got the win.”

Next up for Bath is a rematch of their EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final from last year against Edinburgh Rugby. Both them and the Scots secured the five points tonight, so it’s promises to be a cracker next weekend.

This is the big one for the Bulls. They must beat Bristol to remain a part of the Investec Champions Cup competition. Don’t invest too much energy in the Sharks visit to play the Sale Sharks in Manchester. They will lose.

The Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has picked his best available squad to beat Bristol’s Bears in Saturday afternoon’s match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

All his available Springboks are in the mix, with a potent pack the feature selection. Then there is the experience of double World Cup winners Handre Pollard (flyhalf) and Willie le Roux (fullback).

The Bears have won both their Pool matches in the Champions Cup and have won seven from nine matches in the Prem. They have won their last six matches, while the Bulls have lost their last six matches.

Keo & Zels, in their Rugby Podcast, are tipping the Bulls to break the losing sequence and win well at Loftus.

JP PIETERSEN: WE ARE IN MANCHESTER TO WIN

Zels is confident the (SA) Sharks can go to Manchester and stun the Sale Sharks. Keo is giving the visitors no price, with the Sharks having sent a second-string mach 23 to Manchester. They will be shredded and sent back to Durban as canned Tuna.

The Sharks are backing a win in Durban next weekend to complete their Pool matches and qualify for a Top 16 play-off.

Home wins are non-negotiable in the Investec Champions Cup and away wins are gold, as we saw with Johann van Graan’s Bath and their five points against Castres on Friday night. Northampton Saints and Bordeaux, last season’s finalists, have also won big away from home, the Saints beating Pau in the opening round and Bordeaux magical in keeping the Bulls scoreless in the second half and winning 46-33 in Pretoria.

The Stormers, unbeaten in their opening two rounds, including a win against Bayonne in France, has not lost in 10 matches in all competitions this season, and they have rested the core of their primary match 23 squad for Sunday’s visit to Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

Harlequins have won just two from nine Prem matches, but they are one from two in the Champions Cup.

FOR ALL THE LATEST IN THE INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP

INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
VODACOM BULLS vs BRISTOL BEARS (Saturday, 3pm)

BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen.

AFRICA PICKS: Pressure builds across Champions Cup pools

BRISTOL BEARS – 15 Rich Lane, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Fitz Harding (c), 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Max Lahiff.
Bench: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Matias Moroni.

©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Christiaan Kotze

HARLEQUINS vs STORMERS (Sunday, 3pm)

HARLEQUINS – 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Nick David, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Jack Kenningham, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Simon Kerrod.
Bench: 16 George Turner, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Elliot Williams, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Tom Lawday, 22 Max Green, 23 Jarrod Evans.

ALSO: Champions Cup preview (Round 3)

STORMERS – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Damian Willemse (c), 11 Luke Burger, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Louw Nel, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 1 Oli Kebble.
Bench: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Wandile Mlaba, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 Mfundo Ndhlovu.

©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Thinus Maritz

STORMERS LEAD THE SA CHARGE IN INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP

SALE SHARKS vs SHARKS (Saturday, 7:30pm)

SALE SHARKS – 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Obi Ene, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 4 Ben Bamber, 3 James Harper, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Bench: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Willgriff John, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Hyron Andrews, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Gurshwin Wehr.

MORE: Sale fired up by Sharks owner’s ‘tuna’ taunt

SHARKS – 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Le Roux Malan, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Marnus Potgieter.

©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Steve Haag

©INPHO/James Crombie

If you want to know why the Springboks have won the most World Cups, have a look at Saturday’s two South African URC derbies in Durban and Cape Town. South African rugby was the winner, writes Mark Keohane.

It was brutal knockout rugby that showcased the mental toughness of South Africa’s players when they play for something that means something to them.

What matters most to South African rugby fans is winning the World Cup, beating the All Blacks and England and winning the local derbies.

France and Ireland are ‘nice to have wins’ and have rarely been a hyped occasion, outside of the past few seasons, but the All Blacks are always the big occasion.

In domestic rugby, it is the local derby, specifically when the Stormers play the Bulls. The Lions and Sharks are big matches, and part of the derby fabric but traditionally when one talks north v south or south v north it is the Bulls v Stormers or the Stormers v Bulls.

In Cape Town, in front of 54 000 at the DHL Stadium, the occasion justified the traditional hype. Form was irrelevant, the Stormers nine successive wins in all competitions and the Bulls’ five successive defeats, meant nothing. On derby day, it is only about what happens between the first and last whistle.

The Bulls started with 10 of the current Springboks squad and the Stormers started with seven of the current Springboks squad. All 17 players delivered on their pedigree in the most testing of atmospheres and demanding of conditions as the big Cape wind blew with enthusiasm and vigour.

The defence on both sides matched the presence of the wind, but ultimately the Stormers bench proved superior in the final few minutes and the decisive match-winning try came from a line out maul. The Stormers had turned down two kickable penalties at posts in the final five minutes and opted for the potential of five points.

They got the five pointer to break the 8-all deadlock and lead 13-8 with 30 seconds to play. They then defended their line for the final Bulls play and forced an error from Springboks Test veteran and Test centurion Wille le Roux.

There will be plenty said of referee Griffin Colby, who awarded 30 penalties, split evenly between the two teams. Colby struggled with the occasion, was out of his depth and in the first five minutes on three occasions apologised to both teams for his errors. This allowed for every player to believe they had the right to ask for another apology. Colby never recovered and it was not his finest 81 minutes. Hopefully, he will be better for the experience.

In Durban, in the early game, big name players had moments, but the decision-making and game management let down the hosts, who refused kickable penalties at posts to extend a 22-18 lead to 25-18.

And the Lions, like so many good Springboks teams, refused to go away. They tackled and defended and when they got one chance in the final play of the game they made it count with a winning five pointer.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus would have loved the match-ups. Big pressure moments tell you more about a player than 73-0 wins in Cardiff.

KEO: HOW I CALLED THE STORMERS WIN BUT GOT DONE BY THE LIONS

Individually, there were lots of winners, as many losers, but most pertinently, there was a collective victory for the mental strength and state of the South African domestic game.

URC LATEST: ALL THE STATS AND REPORTS

SA RUGBY MAG LATEST ON SA’S URC QUARTET

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

Lions scored a try after the hooter to beat the Sharks in Durban.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

Round 9 of the United Rugby Championship takes centre stage this weekend, and all attention will be on a sold-out Cape Town Stadium, where the unbeaten Stormers take on the Bulls in a clash that could shape the South African race to the playoffs.

Stormers vs Bulls – top billing in the South

The Stormers have been near-flawless this season, winning all seven of their matches to sit atop the URC table. With a potent mix of youth and Bok firepower, John Dobson’s side has made Cape Town a fortress. Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have led the charge on attack, while a hardened pack provides the platform.

The Bulls arrive with just three wins but with renewed belief after their win over Saracens in Europe. With Handré Pollard at flyhalf and the experience of Willie le Roux at fullback, they have the weapons to strike. If they can match the Stormers physically and slow their tempo, they’ll fancy a shot at an upset.

Expect fireworks: the last five meetings between these sides have all been decided by fine margins, and with both chasing playoff spots, neither can afford a slip.

STORMERS – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Bench: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Ruben van Heerden, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.

BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Reinhardt Ludwig, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Devon Williams.

Sharks vs Lions – must-win for both

Elsewhere in South Africa, the Sharks host the Lions in a Durban derby loaded with tension. The Sharks have shown signs of revival under interim coach JP Pietersen, with recent wins over Saracens and the Bulls injecting belief into a season that started poorly.

The Lions have had flashes of brilliance and just enough consistency to stay in the playoff hunt but a loss here could undo the progress made over the past month. Wessel Roux’s arrival as forwards coach is a key shift, and his pack will need to front up against a Sharks side that’s regained its bite.

Weather could play a role in Durban, with rain forecast around kick-off, which may favour the home side’s more structured approach.

SHARKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Siya Masuku.

AFRICA PICKS: URC Round 9 – Keo’s Accumulator

LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Bench: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Edward Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Richard Kriel.

Irish interpro battles heat up

In the north, Ulster and Munster meet in Belfast on Friday in a clash with top-four implications. Ulster boast an unbeaten home record this season and lead the competition in total points scored, while Munster sit second on the table despite a frustrating recent loss to Leinster.

Leinster, meanwhile, host Connacht at the Aviva in a fixture they’ve dominated in recent years. The defending champions have quietly built momentum after a slow start, winning six in a row. Connacht are in danger of slipping further after five losses in six and will need a dramatic turnaround to halt their Interpro losing streak.

Round 9 fixtures

Friday, 5 January

Ulster vs Munster – Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

Saturday, 6 January

Leinster vs Connacht – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Stormers vs Bulls – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town (sold out)

Sharks vs Lions – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban

Munster’s failure to beat Leinster in Limerick means the Stormers end 2025 to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, three points ahead of Munster and with a game in hand.

Click Here To View Vodacom URC Team Stats

Top Players From R8

Carries: 25 Fletcher Anderson (Scarlets)

Defenders Beaten: 7 Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors)

Lineouts Won: 8 Tom Ahern (Munster Rugby)

Metres: 131 Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby)

Passes: 95 Aled Davies (Cardiff Rugby)

Tackles: 28 Harri Deaves (Ospreys)

Overall Top Players After R8

Carries: 123 Alun Lawrence (Cardiff Rugby)

Defenders Beaten: 33 Jacob Stockdale / Sebastian de Klerk (Vodacom Bulls)

Kicks in Play: 67 Gareth Davies (Scarlets)

Lineout Steals: 7 Alex Soroka (Leinster Rugby)

Lineouts Won: 42 Marvin Orie (Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Metres: 490 Sebastian de Klerk (Vodacom Bulls)

Passes: 550 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors)

Tackles: 113 Harri Deaves (Ospreys)

Tries: 6 Louis Lynagh (Benetton) / Werner Kok (Ulster Rugby)

Turnover Won: 11 Samuele Locatelli (Zebre Parma)

Overall Top Team Season Totals

Carries: 1255 Glasgow Warriors

Defenders Beaten: 208 Glasgow Warriors 

Kicks in Play: 248 Cardiff Rugby

Metres: 3683 Glasgow Warriors

Points: 231 Ulster Rugby

Tackles: 1307 Dragons RFC

Tries: 33 Ulster Rugby

Turnover Won: 57 Munster Rugby

Visits To 22: 108 Glasgow Warriors

Siya Kolisi’s homecoming to Cape Town next season, aligned with the signature of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, is the biggest of salutes from Stormers coach John Dobson and the club’s owners to their local support base. Christmas has come for the Stormers.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s renewal and contract extension from 2027 to 2029 was the biggest statement of the new ownership, Red Disa Investments, bearing in mind that Damain Willemse’s big signature was secured just before the new ownership.

SASHA’S SIGNATURE THE BIGGEST STORMERS STATEMENT

The signings of so many talented youngsters, coupled with Springboks Cobus Reinach and Wilco Louw, made for the best transfer news for Stormers supporters.

Then, on Tuesday, the 23rd December, came confirmation that the King of Cape Town Rugby, Springboks World Cup-winning captain Kolisi, would be returning home to Cape Town to be closer to his family and to the club he holds so dear in his heart, the Stormers.

It all began for Kolisi professionally as a rugby player in Cape Town and he is one of the elite club of Stormers Centurions.

Kolisi played 118 matches for the Stormers between 2011 and 2021 and 34 matches for Western Province in the same period.

Kolisi, since leaving the Stormers, had stints at the Sharks, Racing 92 and back at the Sharks, but everything suggested a return to Cape Town is what he wanted most, and the Stormers leadership, through coach Dobson and owner Johan le Roux, have facilitated the perfect final chapter to Kolisi’s rugby-playing career.

Few would counter the view that Kolisi deserves nothing less than to write his own final chapter, between now and the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. He deserves every bit of goodwill and belief that he is getting from the Stormers decision-makers.

The Stormers, seven from seven in the 2025/26 URC season and two from two in the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup, have enjoyed an unprecedented start to their season.

The signature of Kolisi cements the most glorious of month’s for the club.

Kolisi was all humility and gratitude to the Sharks for granting him an early release.

And rightly so.

Kolisi, who played his 100th Test for the Springboks in November, will add enormous value to the Stormers, as a player, a leader and a mentor.

ALL THE REPORTS: SIYA’S RETURN TO THE STORMERS

Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux said: ‘Siya is a national icon who has such a strong connection to our team and our supporters. He is also a family man who wants to be there for his children as much as possible.

‘These are values that resonate with our club and given the significance of our heritage in defining where we want to go, we are very happy to welcome Siya back to hopefully see out his career in the jersey he wore when it started.

Kolisi said that returning to Cape Town is a significant moment for him and his family.

‘I have such incredible memories of my time at the DHL Stormers, the way I was embraced by the fans in my formative years has never left me.  My family is in Cape Town and it is important to me to be close to them. This move gives me the chance to do that while also giving back to the team and fans who made such a big contribution to the player and person I am today.

‘I am looking forward to contributing in any way I can to the future success and happiness of this special club and its incredible supporters,’ he said.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said: ‘We have got an outstanding crop of loose forwards in our squad and a number of very strong young leaders, with the last three Junior Springbok captains all on our books.

‘Siya will be able to help develop these players and mentor them in a way that nobody else could, given what he has achieved and what he represents to all South Africans and especially our fans.

‘We are very aware of the load that he has carried professionally and personally over the last few years, but what is so encouraging is the way that he has bought into helping us reach the goals we have set for ourselves in developing our squad as we build towards Project 2029.’

Perfection, in results for the hosts in Cape Town, as the Stormers went  7-from-7 in the URC, and redemption, in terms of hope, for the Sharks in Durban, writes Mark Keohane.

The perfect Stormers were imperfect in scoring five league points against the Lions. The Stormers won 34-27 at the DHL Stadium, and the Sharks made it two from two in all competitions in finishing off the Bulls in an intense South African derby in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The Stormers close out 2025 as the form team in the United Rugby Championship, going 7-from-7 to finish the year top of the URC table with 32 points from a possible 35. Add their two wins from two in the Investec Champions Cup, and the Cape side are nine-from-nine across all competitions, with six victories coming away from the DHL Stadium. No team in Europe or South Africa has matched the consistency, travel resilience, or mentality of this Stormers squad.

Screenshot

The Stormers’ success is built on a culture that doesn’t crack under pressure.

Even when off the boil for long periods of the 80 minutes, they find a way. Even when the rhythm is disrupted, the leadership and belief remain. This is a team that defends like champions, attacks with confidence, and wins when they’re not close to their best which is the mark of a genuine title contender.

The signing of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu until 2029 is another statement of intent.

STORMERS OWNERS MAKE A STATEMENT

The Springboks’ breakout star of 2025, a Test match general with the temperament of a veteran and the skills of a modern match-winner, has committed to Cape Town for the long term. His presence anchoring the next generation is as significant as any result this season. The future of Stormers rugby looks settled and bright.

Saturday at the DHL Stadium also delivered a moment of significance when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu met Stormers and Springbok icon Percy Montgomery.

The original ice-cold No 15, whose boot carried South Africa to the 2007 Rugby World Cup, meeting the new face of Stormers playmaking was a passing-of-the-torch moment Cape Town supporters will remember.

But Cape Town wasn’t the only South African rugby city celebrating.

In Durban, the Sharks beat the Bulls in front of a capacity Kings Park crowd, delivering their best performance of the season.

It was physical, composed, and emotional, with Siya Kolisi’s influence visible in every collision and every carry.

Andre Esterhuizen was immense again, imposing himself with the same brutality and precision that has defined his 2025 season for club and country.

Credit also go to JP Pietersen, only a fortnight into his early coaching leadership but already bringing clarity, calm, and a winning edge to the Sharks.

A World Cup winner in 2007, Pietersen’s understanding of big-occasion rugby was obvious as the Sharks controlled the derby with intelligence and impact.

The final weekend of 2025 showcased everything that defines South African rugby: big crowds, powerful derbies, world-class players, and teams capable of beating anyone, anywhere.

With the Springboks ending the year ranked No 1 in the world, and the Stormers ranked No 1 in the URC, South Africa dominates both the Test and club landscape.

ALL THE LATEST URC REPORTS AND NEWS

Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images

Red Disa Investments, the owners of the Stormers, made the biggest statement in securing the signature of Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu until the end of the 2029 season.

This is a club, based in the most sought after tourist city in the world, with an ambition to be the most sought after rugby club on the planet, and a club whose players are among the sport’s hottest property.

Right now, none is sizzling more than Feinberg-Mngomezulu, a home grown talent, whose signature was secured to 2027, but who now will remain in Cape Town beyond 2027 as part of the Stormers and coach John Dobson’s project to make the Stormers the No 1 club in the sport.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu could have picked the city of his choice, in South Africa or anywhere else in the rugby playing world, as his next club-rugby home base. It is the biggest compliment to Dobson and the Stormers owners, led by CEO Johan le Roux, that the very best of the Cape Town-born and raised players want to remain at the Stormers.

Le Roux, among the Red Disa ownership, doubles his role as the CEO. He has been transparent in the past year that the club ethos was not going to be one of throwing money at big name players for the sake of it.

The club ambition is such that the right players would be sought and retained. It is about culture and understanding the club, its supporters and the history of the Stormers.

Local talent will always be a priority, keeping the local talent at the club aligns with this priority and, where possible, another investment would be bringing back in-form big names who had previously played for the Stormers.

Wilco Louw, the most destructive tighthead scrumming prop, is returning to the Stormers, having last played for the club in 2017. Louw transferred to London’s Harlequins and then to the Bulls. He is the most sought after tighthead in world rugby.

The Stormers got him for the 2026/27 season.

They also got Springboks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach to return to South Africa after nearly a decade playing for the Saints and Montpellier in England and France. They did this and kept SA under 20 halfback and local lad Imad Khan, who was the Player of the Match in the Investec Champions Cup match against Bayonne in France.

Damian Willemse, Evan Roos and BJ Dixon all committed to staying in Cape Town and there has been investment in the leadership and playing qualities of former SA under 20 captain Salmaan Moerat and veteran loose-forward Deon Fourie. Coaching pathways have been created for club icons Brok Harris and Dewald Duvenhage and an intense and detailed talent identification programme has ensured the best of the young brigade remain in Cape Town.

Outside backs Leolin Zas and Suleiman Hartzenberg are part of the future, so too midfielder Jonny Roche and flyhalf Jurie Matthee and utility flank/lock Connor Evans.

Paul de Villiers, another former SA under 20 captain, is thriving as the successor to Fourie, whose early season was cut short through injury.

Dobson also secured SA under 20 rugby captain and SA under 19 cricket captain Riley Norton’s signature, as well as the prized schoolboy asset Markus Muller, who matriculated from Paarl Gim a month ago. The prop resources are huge, from club centurions Frans Malherbe and Neethling Fouche, to the most exciting young talent in the country, including prop Zach Porthen, who made his Springboks debut a month ago, at just 21 years-old.

KEO & ZELS PREVIEW THIS WEEKEND’S DERBIES 

The Stormers Academy runs for the first time in a decade, but is streamlined and without freebies. There is a non-negotiable attitude toward youth, a refusal to bin experienced players because of age, and a crafted battle plan in how to maximise the legs and minds of those players the wrong side of 30.

Ruhan Nel and the Du Plessis cousins, Dan and Jean-Luc, Seabelo Senatla, Ali Vermaak and Scarra Ntubeni are very highly regarded.

BLUE & WHITE DELIGHT FOR STORMERS & adidas 

Local is LEKKER is a real thing at the Stormers, among the players and coaches.

Of the current squad, 24 were schooled locally.

Dobson is a Cape rugby pureblood. This city province and club has been his home from the moment he played. His father, the late Paul Dobson, was an internationally celebrated rugby historian, Western Province referee and Master at Bishops for 30-plus years.

Dobson was born into Cape rugby.

He understands the Cape rugby landscape like no other coach in this country. He lived it as a schoolboy, club and provincial club player and did his entire rugby coaching apprenticeship within the structures of the Stormers. He coached the juniors at Western Province, the seniors at Western Province and finally the Stormers, who he guided to the URC title in its inaugural season.

The CEO Le Roux breathes local rugby. He attended Paul Roos.

STUNNING STORMERS REBRAND IS A REBOOT

The Stormers home support base is the best in the country, in crowd attendance, in social media interest and among the most popular among broadcast statistics.

Cape Town is consistently ranked as one of the most visited tourist attractions by overseas travel publications and travel critics.

Cape Town is also home to the Stormers and the city and rugby club are a match made in marketing heaven.

KEO’S URC DERBY WEEKEND ACCUMULATOR – AFRICA PICKS

RED DISA INVESTMENTS

John Dobson’s Stormers have played themselves into contention to host a play-off in the Investec Champions Cup. The top eight teams, from the competing 24, play at home in the last 16, which will happen in April in 2026.

The Stormers are one of just six teams unbeaten after the opening two-round block of Europe’s most prestigious club rugby competition.

They lead Pool 3 on points differential from Irish club giants Leinster, who have won the title four times. Leinster are also unbeaten.

With each title comes the sought after star, and France’s Toulouse, with six stars in the 30 year competition history, tells you just how difficult it is to win the Champions Cup.

Last season’s finalists, Bordeaux and Northampton Saints, were drawn in the same Pool this season and both are unbeaten and lead the overall standings with the maximum league points and the best points differential.

Bristol’s Bears, also in Pool 4 with Bordeaux and the Saints, are also unbeaten and France Smith’s Glasgow Warriors are two from two after their stunning 28-21 home win against Toulouse. The latter led 21-0 at halftime.

Glasgow’s win is among the greatest in Pool stage history.

INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP 2025/26 LEAGUE AFTER 2 ROUNDS

1. Saints – 10 league points, plus 53 points differential
2. Bordeaux – 10 league points, plus 42 differential
3. Warriors – 10 league points, plus 12 differential
4. Bristol – 9 league points, plus 50 points differential
5. Stormers – 9 league points, plus 30 points differential
6. Leinster – 9 league points, plus 25 points differential
7. Harlequins – 6 league points, plus 37 points differential
8. Saracens – 6 league points, plus 32 points differenetial
9. Toulouse – 6 league points, plus 30 points differential
10. Sale Sharks – 6 league points, plus 16 points differential
11. Bath – 6 league points, plus 15 points differential
12. Castres – 5 league points, plus 13 points differential
13. Munster – 5 league points, plus 2 points differential
14. La Rochelle  – 5 league points, minus 2 points differential
15. Toulon – 5 league points, minus 2 points differential
16. Gloucester – 5 league points, minus 8 points differential
17. Edinburgh – 5 league points, minus 20 points differential
18. Sharks (SA) – 5 league points, minus 32 points differential
19. Scarlets – 1 league point, minus 30 points differenetial
20. Bulls – 1 league point, minus 58 points differential
21. Leicester – 0 league points, minus 27 points differential
22. Clermont – 0 league points, minus 58 points differential
23. Pau – 0 league points, minus 59 points differential
24. Bayonne – 0 league points, minus 63 points differential

The teams all return to the Prem, Top 14 and URC respectively for the next three weeks, before the Investec Champions Cup Round stages are completed on the weekends of the 9th, 10th and 11th & 16t h, 17th & 18th January.

The play-off dates, with home teams determined by their points tally, and then points differential:

• Last 16 – 03/04/05 April 2026.
• Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026.
• Semi-finals – 01/02/03 May 2026
• Finas – Bilbao – 22/23/ May 2026

ALL THE POOL STANDINGS 

SPRINGBOKS STAR IN INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP 

Stormers flanker Paul de Villiers has the joint most turnovers after the completed first block of this season’s Investec Champions Cup, with the opening fortnight of the competition and the EPCR Challenge Cup breaking records for viewership. De Villiers is among five nominations for Player of the Month.

Bulls supporters may not yet have an appreciation of the status of the Investec Champions Cup, with just 7300 attending the opener at Loftus against the 2024/25 champions Bordeaux, but elsewhere the tournament continues to command interest, at the grounds and through television, online and social media viewership.

The Stormers, having played their first competition ‘home’ game outside of Cape Town due to the unavailability of the DHL Stadium, still got a crowd of 17 000 for their win against La Rochelle, while plenty tuned into the Sharks home win against Saracens, even if awful weather conditions limited ground attendance.

The Keo & Zels show, on their social media channels, combined for a viewership of 1.2 million, whilst SA Rugby Magazine published 130 articles on the tournament in the past three weeks, and 230 social media posts across their platforms, as well as their WhatsApp Channel & the Keo & Zels WhatsApp Channel.

The EPCR reported that Broadcast audiences also surged, with peak TV viewership exceeding 2 million on France Télévisions for the RC Toulon v Bath Rugby clash, reinforcing the competitions’ status as must-watch sporting event.

Digital engagement also continued its upward trajectory year on year, demonstrated by 3.65 million total digital engagements, up from 2.75 million at the same stage last season, and 3 million YouTube highlight views, a 25% increase on last season.

The EPCR also launched a brand-new Investec Champions Cup show, produced by Brian O’Driscoll and Craig Doyle’s 3 Rock production company and fronted by former French international Ben Kayser, celebrating the cities, culture and fans of the Investec Champions Cup – as well as the world-class Test match rugby in club colours.

Bordeaux’s French International flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert has won Investec Player of the Match in both Bordeaux’s wins, Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu joined the list of players with the second most try assists in one match (4), with Toulouse and France No 9 Antoine Dupont’s 5 setting the standard.

Toulouse’s Jack Willis, the Top 14 and French rugby player of the year last season, has been imposing in this year’s opening two rounds, and, in the 21-28 defeat to Glasgow, made 25 tackles. Willis is ineligible for England selection because he plays his club rugby in France.

Toulouse’s Thomas Ramos has also thrived, at flyhalf in Round 1 and fullback in Round 2.

Across 42 high-quality matches in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, Europe and South Africa’s leading clubs and players delivered compelling performances that set the tone for the rest of the campaign.

That exceptional standard of play is reflected in the Investec Champions Cup Player of the Month nominees, each of whom led by example and played a key role in guiding their teams to consecutive victories.

• Adam Hastings, Glasgow Warriors. Investec Player of the Match against Stade Toulousain during Glasgow’s unbelievable comeback in Round 2.
• George Hendy, Northampton Saints. Scored four tries in 2 Rounds and was Investec Player of the Match against Vodacom Bulls in Round 2.
• Paul de Villiers, DHL Stormers. Investec Player of the Match against Stade Rochelais in Round 2 and joint most turnovers so far in the competition.
• Matthieu Jalibert, Union Bordeaux Bègles. More points than any other player (28) thanks to three tries, five conversions and a penalty goal in two Rounds. Was the Player of the Match in both matches.
• Sione Tuipulotu, Glasgow Warriors. Hugely influential in Glasgow’s historic win against Stade Toulousain and one of the seasons’ top carriers.

Just six of the 24 teams are unbeaten in the opening fortnight.

In Pool 1, Franco Smith’s Glasgow are the only unbeaten team, with two wins from two. The quality and fight within the Pool is illustrated with with one league point separating second place Saracens (6) and fifth placed Sharks, from KZN, who have five points after the bonus-point home win against Saracens.

There is no unbeaten team in Pool 2, with Bath toping the table.

In Pool three, the Cape Town based Stormers are unbeaten and edge Leinster at the top of the table on points differential. Both teams have nine league points.

Last season’s finalists, Bordeaux and Northampton Saints were drawn in Pool 4, and the Saints are on top on points differential, with Bordeaux second and the unbeaten Bristol Bears third.

SPRINGBOKS STAND TALLEST FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP

*Explaining the EPCR

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is the organiser of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. EPCR’s mission is to create outstanding rugby experiences for all key stakeholders, including leagues, clubs, players, match officials, unions, fans, broadcast and commercial partners, communities and the media.

The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup feature clubs from the Gallagher Premiership, TOP 14 and United Rugby Championship. 42 clubs from three leagues and eight unions compete each season to win club rugby’s most elite titles. Broadcast to over 100 territories around the world, last season EPCR’s tournaments welcomed 1.5 million fans into stadia and achieved a broadcast audience of over 70 million viewers.

The EPCR Finals Weekend is a destination rugby weekend held in a different city every year.

On 22 and 23 May 2026, the vibrant Basque city of Bilbao will welcome the EPCR Challenge Cup Final and Investec Champions Cup Final to the stunning San Mamés Stadium, where 60% of tickets for the Bilbao Finals already sold,

Established in 2014 with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, EPCR has the following members: Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL), PRO Rugby Championship DAC (URC), Rugby Football Union (RFU), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The Board of EPCR has the following members: Dominic McKay (Chairman), Jacques Raynaud (EPCR CEO), Martin Anayi (URC), Emmanuel Eschalier (LNR), Simon Massie-Taylor (PRL), Mark McCafferty (independent director), Arnaud Nourry (independent director), Jérémie Lecha (FFR) and Kevin Potts (IRFU).

EPCR’s revenues are distributed on the basis of an equal three-way division to Premiership Rugby clubs, URC clubs and LNR clubs.

EPCR’s tournaments are run according to World Rugby’s Laws of the Game, and to World Rugby Regulations.

LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/epcrugby

EPCR contact: [email protected]

Stormers winger Dylan Maart is among the Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Try of the Round nominees. Give him your support South Africa.

VOTE HERE

Maart scored a brace of tries in the Stormers’ 42-21 Investec Champions Cup win over La Rochelle in Gqeberha on Saturday.

REPORT: Stormers subdue spirited La Rochelle

At 29, when many players are well-established in their careers, Maart made a life-altering decision to leave his job as a warehouse worker at a bottling plant and betting everything on rugby.

Two years later, that gamble has taken him from the fringes of South African rugby to the Currie Cup podium, the Vodacom URC stage and the bright lights of the Champions Cup with the Stormers.

“I played rugby in primary school, but nothing in high school, for various reasons,” Maart told Rapport. “Things weren’t good at home. There were many nights when there was no food and we went to sleep hungry.”

At just 13, he worked as a taxi guard – opening doors, collecting fares, carrying bags – simply to help put food on the table. It was also the only way he could get to school in Paarl, riding for free because he worked on the taxi.

But Maart never let go of his love for the game.

When his chance finally came, he grabbed it with both hands, winning promotion and silverware with the Boland Cavaliers, becoming a cornerstone of a Griquas side that ended a 55-year Currie Cup drought, and now making his mark in Stormers colours following a loan deal.

The Stormers are two from two in the Investec Champions Cup and have put themselves in a position to host a last 16 home play-off and more home play-offs because of their excellent start.

The Stormers, in 2025/26 are eight wins from eight starts in all competitions, with just two of those wins coming at their home venue, the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

They play the Lions in their final match of the year in Cape Town at the DHL Stadium on Saturday. It is in the URC in what will be their ninth match of the 2025/26 season.

FULL STORY

SUPER SATURDAY FOR STORMERS AND SHARKS

The in-form Springboks trio wearing numbers 9, 10 and 12 of November continued their hot form in Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks) and Cobus Reinach (Stormers) were South Africa’s biggest individual contributors. Their match statistics reinforced their contributions.

Bulls No 8 Elrigh Louw, in his comeback month, was comfortably his team’s best performer.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s individual statistics against La Rochelle read like a distinction list, with Paul de Villiers and Cobus Reinach producing massive individual returns in the 42-21 Investec Champions Cup win against La Rochelle.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu made the most metres (90), beat the most defenders (7), made the most kicks in play (11) and carried the ball the most (13). Player of the Match De Villiers, who won vital turnovers on his team’s own try line, made the most tackles (16), beat four defenders, the second most among the Stormers, alongside scrum half Cobus Reinach, and made the fifth most running metres (47). He also was made the third most carries (9), one behind second placed Reinach.

The impact of Springboks Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu is emphasised by their individual contributions and collective as a halfback pairing. The duo featured as the biggest contributors in every one of the four primary attacking categories.

De Villiers’s all-round impact, on attack, defensively and at the breakdown speaks to his Investec Player of the Match Award.

SUPER SATURDAY FOR STORMERS AND SHARKS

Sharks inside centre captain Andre Esterhuizen, in his 100th match for the Sharks, made the most tackles for his team (14), the most carries (11), beat the most defenders (5) and made the second most metres (29). His fellow Springboks midfielder beat four defenders, which was the second most for the Sharks. 

AFRICA PICKS: WINNING BIG WITH THE SHARKS

EVERY PLAYER STATISTIC AND TEAM STATISTIC FROM ROUND 2s 12 MATCHES

Springbok loose-forward Elrigh Louw, in his first start of the season after a lengthy lay-off because of a serious leg injury, was the top performer for the embattled Bulls against the Northampton Saints. The Bulls lost 50-5 but Louw was the the only bright light on a dark night.

Louw, who started at No 8, played for 58 minutes in his third comeback match. He made the most carry metres, 41, the second most tackles (13), which was one less than Marcell Coetzee and he won the most turnovers for the Bulls (2).

Saints smash Bulls 

Round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup delivered big results, with South African teams at the heart of the weekend’s action. The Stormers and Sharks both notched morale-boosting wins, while the Bulls endured a punishing afternoon in Northampton.

The Stormers opened Saturday’s fixtures with a commanding 42–21 win over defending champions Stade Rochelais in Cape Town. Physical dominance up front and clinical finishing saw the hosts pull away in the second half to maintain their perfect start to the tournament.

Over in Durban, the Sharks showed resilience to edge Saracens 28–23 in wet conditions at Kings Park. The hosts held off a late surge from the English giants to claim their first win of the campaign.

But it was a difficult outing for the Bulls, who travelled to face Northampton Saints and were outplayed in all areas. The 52–5 defeat was compounded by a hat-trick from Saints winger George Hendy, who now has four tries in the tournament.

South African-born Ernst van Rhyn featured again for Sale Sharks, who ran in five tries in a 35–14 victory over Clermont in France. Sale’s backline sliced through with ease as they claimed a valuable away win.

Elsewhere, Leinster held off a strong challenge from Leicester Tigers on Friday night to win 23–15, while Glasgow Warriors pulled off the shock of the round recovering from 21–0 down to beat Stade Toulousain 28–21.

Bordeaux Bègles racked up 50 points against Scarlets, and Munster turned on the style late to beat Gloucester 31–3.

Sunday’s action saw Harlequins dismantle Bayonne 68–14, Castres blank Edinburgh 33–0, and Toulon edge Bath 45–34 in a high-scoring thriller. Bristol Bears closed out the round with a dominant 61–12 win over Pau.

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Results

Friday

• Leicester Tigers 15–23 Leinster Rugby

Saturday

• DHL Stormers 42–21 Stade Rochelais

• Hollywoodbets Sharks 28–23 Saracens

• ASM Clermont Auvergne 14–35 Sale Sharks

• Union Bordeaux Bègles 50–21 Scarlets

• Munster Rugby 31–3 Gloucester Rugby

• Glasgow Warriors 28–21 Stade Toulousain

Sunday

• Harlequins 68–14 Aviron Bayonnais

• Castres Olympique 33–0 Edinburgh Rugby

• RC Toulon 45–34 Bath Rugby

• Northampton Saints 52–5 Vodacom Bulls

• Bristol Bears 61–12 Section Paloise

South Africa’s two representatives in the EPCR Challenge Cup both suffered Round 2 defeats on Saturday, as European sides produced a mix of dominance and drama across the competition.

The Cheetahs started brightly in Amsterdam, leading Stade Français at the break, but were overwhelmed in the second half. The French club ran in six tries including a brace for Thibaut Motassi to clinch a convincing 45–22 bonus-point win.

In Newcastle, the Lions looked set to bounce back from their opening loss after an early try from Angelo Davids. But the Red Bulls held firm and struck late, with a 78th-minute Murray McCallum try snatching a 14–10 victory for the hosts.

Elsewhere, Benetton backed up their Round 1 result with a 44–31 home win over USAP, while Ospreys overcame a spirited Montauban side 33–22 despite a second-half wobble.

In Galway, Connacht were ruthless in a 52–0 demolition of Black Lion, with Paul Boyle grabbing a first-half hat-trick. In contrast, Cardiff edged Ulster 29–26 in a thriller, with Callum Sheedy’s late penalty sealing the win after a dramatic fightback from the Welsh side.

Sunday delivered more excitement as Racing 92 salvaged a 31–31 draw with Exeter Chiefs thanks to an 83rd-minute conversion by Geronimo Prisciantelli. Meanwhile, Dragons RFC snapped a year-long losing streak with a 23–21 comeback win over Lyon.

EPCR Challenge Cup Round 2 Results

Saturday:

• Benetton Rugby 44–31 USAP

• Toyota Cheetahs 22–45 Stade Français

• US Montauban 22–33 Ospreys

• Newcastle Red Bulls 14–10 Lions

• Connacht Rugby 52–0 Black Lion

• Cardiff Rugby 29–26 Ulster Rugby

Sunday:

• Racing 92 31–31 Exeter Chiefs

• Dragons RFC 23–21 Lyon Olympique

Springbok Elrigh Louw was the light for the Bulls on what was another dark day in the 2025/26 season, writes Mark Keohane.

The Bulls were belittled, more than beaten, by the Northampton Saints on Sunday in the Investec Champions Cup, and what made the afternoon that much more embarrassing for the South Africans is that the Saints were not at their best for the first 50 minutes.

Louw, who played more minutes against the Saints than he has since coming back for a serious injury and nearly a year out of the sport, is growing in confidence and strength. The Springboks No 8 is a class act and he was the one player who looked like an international in a Bulls match 23 that played with little intensity and even less regard for the preciousness of holding onto the ball.

Louw, who started at No 8, played for 58 minutes in his third comeback match. He made the most carry metres, 41, the second most tackles (13), which was one less than Marcell Coetzee and he won the most turnovers for the Bulls (2).

Unfortunately, on this particular afternoon Kade Wolhuter produced probably his worst match of a young professional career. Wolhuter, 24, was a schoolboy star for Paul Roos, Western Province and South Africa’s Youth Teams, but he has battled to transition to professional rugby, having moved from Western Province and the Stormers to the Lions and now the Bulls.

He missed his only two kicks at posts and, as a team and coach killer, he missed three penalty kicks to the touchline. All of these misses were punished by the Saints on the counter-attack. His skill set deserted him with each passing minute and his chip kicks were poor, his passes were ineffective or intercepted and the worse it got, the further back in the pocket he stood.

Springboks two-times World Cup winner and flyhalf Handre Pollard’s presence would have made a difference to the performance but it would not have changed the result.

The Bulls have problems, are devoid of confidence, seem confused as to how to play and most certainly are not showing the desire to prove to new coach Johann Ackerman that the squad should remain the same next season.

Their Investec Champions Cup campaign is over before 2026 has started, having lost both matches in December and conceded 96 points in the process. Their URC campaign is not looking healthy, with three wins in six starts.

The Saints, winners at Pau, are well positioned going into the new year, and they will back themselves to host a home last 16 play-off match.

The Investec Champions Cup, in the play-offs is a representation of the toughest club competition in the world, but the league stages need a revisit, as does the schedule, because too many teams are sending lambs to the slaughter in away games, and then backing big home wins to make the play-offs.

There are six clubs, at best, with proper depth to compete in their domestic competition in parallel to the Investec Champions Cup, and even a club like Saracens found out that to win in South Africa, like in France, you have to send your best squad. They will be hurt by the defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

The Bulls, somehow, trailed 7-5 after 35 minutes and had so many opportunities to be ahead and to put doubt into the home team players and supporters, but the ill-discipline and lack of defensive structure, intensity or mongrel, resulted in a 50-5 defeat.

It got messy in the end and it is going to continue to get messy for the Bulls if they fail to address the fact that they have a serious defensive problem.

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