The Sharks’ return to the Champions Cup has sparked hope that the third season of South African participation in this prestigious tournament might finally see a significant breakthrough. For South African players, while the Webb Ellis Trophy represents the pinnacle at the international level, the Champions Cup is the most coveted achievement in club or provincial rugby.
Most of the Sharks’ squad is comprised of Springbok players. Last season, they missed the Champions Cup due to their underwhelming performance in the United Rugby Championship (URC) the previous year. Their struggles in the URC persisted last season, but their victory in the EPCR Challenge Cup, where they defeated Gloucester at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May, earned them a place in the Champions Cup for the first time since their second Rugby World Cup victory.
Eben Etzebeth, one of the team’s standout players, has been vocal about the significance of the Champions Cup. Following their qualification, he highlighted the tournament’s stature, comparing it to a club-level World Cup. He expressed hope that South African fans would recognize its importance and bring the same energy to home games, especially during group stages, where full stadiums are a hallmark of European rugby.
The Sharks, aiming for the Champions Cup Finals weekend in Cardiff on May 23–24, will begin their campaign against the Exeter Chiefs in Durban. With experienced players like Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, and others in their ranks, the Sharks appear well-prepared to contend for the title. Their improvement in this season’s URC further bolsters their prospects.
Bulls and Stormers Build on Experience
The Bulls and Stormers, South Africa’s other representatives in the Champions Cup, have gained valuable experience from competing in the tournament for two consecutive seasons.
The Bulls, who will open their campaign against three-time champions Saracens in London, currently sit third on the URC standings. Despite playing most of their games away from home, they have shown resilience and determination. After falling short in last year’s URC Final against the Glasgow Warriors, the Bulls are eager to make amends. Although they lack the Sharks’ depth of seasoned Springboks, they have produced a crop of emerging stars recently blooded at the international level, including Cameron Hanekom, Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw, and others.
The Stormers, inaugural URC winners in 2022, bring their international trophy-winning experience into their third Champions Cup season. Last year, they delivered a notable victory over the reigning champions, La Rochelle, in a pool match in Cape Town. However, they narrowly missed another triumph against the same team in the round of 16, when a missed conversion by Manie Libbok cost them a historic win. Despite being placed in the “Pool of Death” last season, which included La Rochelle, Leinster, and Leicester Tigers, the Stormers’ performance demonstrated their growing competitiveness.
Challenges Ahead in the Pools
This season, the Sharks face a formidable challenge in Pool 1, which includes six-time champions Toulouse, Bordeaux Begles, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, and Ulster. Each opponent presents a tough test, highlighting the competitiveness of the group.
The Bulls will compete in a group featuring English champions Northampton Saints and Saracens. While the Bulls defeated Saracens in Pretoria last year, the English club will undoubtedly seek redemption when they host the Bulls in their opening game.
The Stormers are placed in Pool 4 alongside the newly crowned URC champions Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92, Sale Sharks, Toulon, and Harlequins. Meanwhile, Leinster and La Rochelle, dominant forces in European rugby, find themselves grouped together once again in Pool 2.
As the Champions Cup kicks off, all three South African teams aim to prove their mettle against Europe’s best, with hopes of breaking new ground in the competition.