Stormers lead the SA charge in Investec Champions Cup play-off race

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