The Sharks have made history by becoming the first South African team to win a European rugby title, defeating Gloucester 36-22 in the Challenge Cup final held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Friday night. The Sharks' dominant performance was highlighted by a strong scrum, featuring a Springbok front row, with Vincent Koch earning Man of the Match honors. Key tries were scored by Phepsi Buthelezi, Aphelele Fassi, and Makazole Mapimpi, while Siya Masuku contributed 21 points through his kicking. Eben Etzebeth led the team as captain. The victory also secures the Sharks a spot in the 2024/25 Champions Cup.
The Sharks celebrated becoming the first South African team to win a European title after beating Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final on Friday. https://t.co/YSsMabNTsX
๐ It was a historic night for the Sharks as they secured their first major title. ๐ #GLOvSHA โ๏ธ The report from their dominant #ChallengeCupRugby win over Gloucester. https://t.co/htm59mht6C
RATINGS: A tough night at the office for Gloucester, who were outmuscled by the Sharks. There were some strong individual performances though, writes @PBendon ๐จโ๐ป #GLOvSHA #ChallengeCupFinal #ChallengeCup https://t.co/69R1ClJibL
๐ฆ๐ Your #ChallengeCupRugby CHAMPIONS! https://t.co/iEckKqTDJc
REPORT: The Sharks are the first South African side to win a European competition and the foundations for their victory were laid by the Bok โBomb Squadโ. #GLOvSHA | #ChallengeCup https://t.co/TP6LbZnxT2
Sharks surge to Challenge Cup glory after Fassi and Mapimpi sink Gloucester https://t.co/LFvXPuriaz
Mad season for the Sharks. Lost 8 of their first 10 games this season. Have now won 7 of their last 10 and are Challenge Cup champs #GLOvSHA
Your 2023/24 @ChallengeCup_ champions: @SharksRugby! ๐๐ฆ ๐บ @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK https://t.co/Sfco29vhYO
The Sharks made history by becoming the first South African team to win a European final with a comfortable victory over Gloucester to claim the EPCR Challenge Cup in London on Friday. https://t.co/EHLVI4xlTI
Gloucester stuck it out until the end ๐ But congratulations to Sharks - European Challenge Cup winners ๐ https://t.co/q3jS2E9hVW
BREAKING: @SharksRugby win the @ChallengeCup_ and earn a spot in the 2024/25 @ChampionsCup. There are now just 7 Champ Cup spots left in the @URCOfficial this season.
The Sharks are Challenge Cup CHAMPIONS! ๐ฆ๐ฟ๐ฆ https://t.co/jOxLvQtzAI
F-T: Gloucester 22, Sharks 36. The Sharks from Durban win the Challenge Cup and qualify for next seasonโs Champions Cup. Their tries came from No 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, full-back Aphelele Fassi and wing Makazole Mapimpi, with 21 points from fly-half Siya Masuku.
Super Sharks too strong for Gloucester as they claim Challenge Cup glory Full story from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ๐ https://t.co/z9cw7NZ1mp
The Sharks are the 2024 Challenge Cup champions! #GLOvSHA https://t.co/kFplCecWoJ
HISTORY MAKERS! ๐ฆ @SharksRugby become the first South African team to lift the @ChallengeCup_ ๐ https://t.co/FfXRKQPSyg
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!๐๐ @SharksRugby
FT: ๐ GLOUCESTER 22 - 36 SHARKS ๐ฆ Aside from the first ten minutes, the Sharks completely dominated. Scrum far superior and some brilliant individual moments that produced tries. The first South African side to win a European trophy! #ChallengeCup
No fairytale ending for Jonny May at Gloucester ๐ข The Sharks are @ChallengeCup_ winners! ๐ #BBCRugby #ChallengeCupRugby https://t.co/BuwZON2i6l
The Sharks make history as they tackle Gloucester out of contention and win the Challenge Cup. Vincent Koch and Siya Masuku guide the Durban side to victory ๐ฒ https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/xv3cT23cTl
๐ FULL TIME ๐ฆ The Sharks are your 2024 Challenge Cup champions! Their scrum ultimately proved too much for the Cherry and Whites. Vincent Koch put in a Man of the Match performance which included a 50/22. Etzebeth & Venter with thumping hits all game too. Pure phsysicality. https://t.co/utYdJDYuzk
๐ฆ HISTORY! THE SHARKS CLAIM THEIR MAIDEN TITLE AND BECOME THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN SIDE TO WIN A EUROPEAN COMPETITION! #GLOvSHA #ChallengeCupRugby https://t.co/3hkyMwlVCU
๐ฆ @SharksRugby are #ChallengeCup champions! ๐๐ฟ๐ฆ #GLOvSHA https://t.co/onuva9lfzA
HISTORY MAKERS ๐ @SharksRugby are the first South African side to win a #ChallengeCupRugby title, beating Gloucester 22-36 ๐ https://t.co/reCLG3A25m
Sharks being very good. If anyone has seen Gloucester please let me know. Levels have been set today, and of course the South African side, are far the superior.
Sensational! ๐ฅ @SharksRugby are putting on a show in the @ChallengeCup_ final ๐ ๐บ @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK https://t.co/xk0V5SSN2r
Pretty imperious 40 from the Sharks. Gloucester started with all the ball but the South African's ability to keep stopping Gloucester on the gain-line has really stifled them. Add in a monster scrum, great try and steady boot and you've got the Sharks up 16-3 at half-time.
๐ HALF TIME ๐ฆ Sharks have the edge so far. Scrum dominance from the Springbok front row is providing a solid platform. Gloucester don't have many answers there. Buthelezi with a sublime run and dummy for the only try of the match so far. Timely following Wiese's ban. https://t.co/0ijslJlHUs
โฑ๏ธ Half-time: ๐ด Gloucester 3-16 Sharks ๐ฆ #GLOvSHA ๐ข Follow the second half of the #ChallengeCupRugby final, live. ๐ https://t.co/fbMRp76QeR https://t.co/aXyYvHGBQD
Ready for battle โ๏ธ Watch @gloucesterrugby v @SharksRugby live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK https://t.co/NlMLFJ1E03
Minutes until kick off @BBCGlos. Join Andrew Pugh @devsglos @kitchtweet @PFurls @MarkSmithChelt for @ChallengeCup_ Final - @gloucesterrugby v @SharksRugby https://t.co/j56kNbpDMN
๐ด๐ฆ The time has finally arrived for the #ChallengeCupRugby final between Gloucester and the Sharks. #GLOvSHA ๐ข Follow the epic final, live. ๐ https://t.co/fbMRp77o4p https://t.co/iKHm9nb1Q5
Follow the live action as the Sharks clash with Gloucester for the #ChallengeCupRugby trophy. ๐ #GLOvSHA ๐ฆ https://t.co/qdBdnUec5E
Both sides tonight have staked their season on the Challenge Cup. Gloucester finished 9th in the Premiership. The Sharks are 13th in the URC. Reputations are on the line. One DoR will feel relief, the other will have some very unhappy fansโฆ
Both sides tonight have staked their season on the Challenge Cup. Gloucester finished 8th in the Premiership. The Sharks are 13th in the URC. Reputations are on the line. One DoR will feel relief, the other will have some very unhappy fansโฆ
Beware of the bite ๐ฆ @SharksRugby are set for the @ChallengeCup_ final ๐ซก Watch the live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK ๐บ https://t.co/4kcELVSfNN
On paper, the Sharks have the stronger side - Nche, Mbonambi, Koch, Etzebeth, Masuku, Mapimpi etcโฆ Bu I just canโt seem to shake the feeling that Gloucester will edge it somehow. Intriguing one tonight. Kick off in an hour! #ChallengeCupRugby
The stage is set ๐ Watch @gloucesterrugby v @SharksRugby live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK from 7pm ๐บ https://t.co/rynMEfQ2t4
๐ Who lifts the #ChallengeCupRugby trophy tonight? #GLOvSHA https://t.co/U9TQWiPlxq
๐ Excited for the #ChallengeCupRugby finals? ๐ฒShare your excitement with #PlanetRugbyPitchSide or email [email protected]. Letโs gear up for an epic weekend! #RugbyFinals #UGC https://t.co/QhI02i0hct
Hey Sharks fans! ๐ฆ Brace yourselves โ @CaptSpringbok is taking over our Twitter for the Challenge Cup final! This Rugby Nostradamus, songwriter, and meme maestro is ready to bring the hype, laughs and epic updates. Letโs make some noise! ๐ #ChallengeCup #GLOvSHAโฆ
Wow! Your @BBCGlos commentary team has arrived at โTottenholmโ. Join us live from 6-10pm for the @ChallengeCup_ Final. @gloucesterrugby v @SharksRugby #CmonGlaws https://t.co/F3vRKmMHtH
๐ฃ๏ธ "They have got some big names, players who have won World Cups." ๐ Ruan Ackermann relishing #ChallengeCupRugby clash with Sharks. https://t.co/uznnfpceGf
Who's taking home the Challenge Cup ๐ #ChallengeCupRugby #Rugby #GLOvSHA https://t.co/piUYwfEQHa
๐ฟ๐ฆ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ, @SharksRugby ๐ฆ ๐ค #ChallengeCup | #GLOvSHA https://t.co/isBRffxApp
๐ฃ๏ธ "The Sharks are likely to try to leverage penalties through their blockbuster scrum, consisting of five Rugby World Cups in the front-row alone." #GLOvSHA ๐ Our preview and prediction for the #ChallengeCupRugby final โ๏ธ @dylancoetzee241 https://t.co/LF29fd2fZf
๐๐ฆ Eben Etzebeth will skipper the Sharks against Gloucester. #GLOvSHA ๐ Check on the team news for the #ChallengeCupRugby final on Friday. ๐ https://t.co/jETiBbFE6S
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will lead the Sharks in Friday night's European Challenge Cup final against Gloucester at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. | @Sport24news https://t.co/LhLVMScDbz
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eben Etzebeth to captain Sharks in Challenge Cup final #ChallengeCupRugby #GLOvSHA #URC Click below for more โคต๏ธ https://t.co/J1uoMDVlHX
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gloucester change 4 from semi-final for Sharks showdown #ChallengeCupRugby #GLOvSHA #GallagherPrem Click below for more โคต๏ธ https://t.co/8sWw67he3S
The Sharks have named two-time Springbok world champion Eben Etzebeth as captain of the side to take on Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final in London on Friday night. https://t.co/ftzxidYp5b
๐ ๐๐๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ Gloucester looking for their 2nd trophy of the season whilst the Sharks can become the first SA side to win a European trophy. Just a Springbok front row and Etzebeth behind for Gloucester to deal with at the scrumโฆ #ChallengeCup https://t.co/tAMltZYwWG
Your Hollywoodbets Sharks team for The Challenge Cup final against Gloucester Rugby tomorrow ๐ฆ Read full team release article on https://t.co/ir3SMVKnK8 #ChallengeCup #GLOvSHA #RoadToRedemption https://t.co/Iclg1p5Yxl
๐ฃ๏ธ โPlaying in Europe is amazing. Iโve been there with Saracens, but there for a South African club, itโs a surreal moment.โ ๐ฆ Will the Sharks make history this weekend in the #ChallengeCupRugby final? https://t.co/6442aAVfGO
As the Sharks approach their fifth cross-continental final when they face Gloucester in Friday's Challenge Cup final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, they must confront their inedible past when it comes to showpiece games. | @kaymorizm https://t.co/0e8DBwdiVA
๐ฆ Can the Sharks go all the way in the #ChallengeCupRugby? ๐ Read @JaredWright17's exclusive with Springbok Grant Williams. https://t.co/RrD2qqeQGp
๐ @GloucesterRugby or @SharksRugby ๐ฆ Who will lift the #ChallengeCupRugby trophy? ๐ #GLOvSHA https://t.co/lEP1Goi7ny
๐ฃ๏ธ"They have got a lot of high-profile players, a lot of guys who can do things out of nowhere." ๐ Gloucester wary of Sharks' 'powerful' game-changing Springboks. #ChallengeCupRugby https://t.co/laqRQVEnAB
The Sharks will be without Lukhanyo Am for the Challenge Cup final against Gloucester on Friday, but expect Eben Etzebeth, Ethan Hooker and Vincent Koch to be fit for the clash in London. https://t.co/5Qx7Ttaj6z
Gloucester boss highlights comparisons with Bok-laden Sharks #ChallengeCupRugby #GLOvSHA #Springboks Click below for more โคต๏ธ https://t.co/lh9Cf0NcGR