The South African teams, Cheetahs, Sharks, and Bulls, secured victories in the European Challenge Cup and Champions Cup. The Cheetahs defeated Zebre 33-15, with Ruan Pienaar kicking 18 points. The Sharks beat Pau 45-5, with Lukhanyo Am and Eben Etzebeth scoring two tries each. The Bulls won 27-16 against Saracens, with Billy Vunipola being sent off. The Lions also won their Challenge Cup opener against Perpignan. The South African teams' success marked their return to European club competition.
🦈 Double World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth is showing his class at the Sharks. https://t.co/qXIp3QybAa
The @Vodacom Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs kicked off their respective Champions and Challenge cup campaigns on a winning note as five SA teams returned to European club competition. https://t.co/cixWCAzQHc
Siya Kolisi produced an immense performance in his first Champions Cup run for Racing 92, while Springbok prop Thomas du Toit continued his incredible scoring record. https://t.co/LGsPZSeM8Y
📋 LEAGUE RESULTS IN THE CHAMPIONS CUP: Top 14 - 2 WINS, 5 LOSSES, 1 DRAW URC - 2 WINS, 5 LOSSES, 1 DRAW Premiership - 7 WINS, 1 LOSS #InvestecChampionsCup
Against all the odds, what a weekend for the Prem contingent in Champions Cup. Quins beat Racing after Exeter stun Toulon + wins for Sale, Leicester, Bristol, Bath and Northampton. 7/8
Flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse kicked 23 points as the touring Lions beat Perpignan on Sunday to open the 2023-24 Challenge Cup with a win. https://t.co/M6yWSsoGd1
Follow the live action as the DHL Stormers kick off their #InvestecChampionsCup campaign against Leicester Tigers. #LEIvSTO https://t.co/thLztPA01v
⏱️ #InvestecChampionsCup and #ChallengeCupRugby half-times: 🦈 Sale Sharks 6-5 Stade Francais 🇫🇷 #SALvSFP 🟡 Perpignan 12-16 Lions 🦁 #USAPvLIO 🔢 Follow the action here, live. 👉 https://t.co/AXe88qlTBn https://t.co/Ma4vFTEivf
🦈🇫🇷 Sale Sharks v Stade Francais #SALvSFP 🇫🇷🦁 Perpignan v Lions #USAPvLIO 🔢 Follow the #InvestecChampionsCup and #ChallengeCupRugby action, live 👉 https://t.co/AXe88qmrqV https://t.co/5rniE51jUG
Follow the live action as the Lions kick off their #ChallengeCupRugby campaign against Perpignan. #USAPvLIO https://t.co/JyVNSUJ8Gi
Director of rugby Jake White said the @Vodacom Bulls benefited from a “ruthless” display of Champions Cup rugby in their narrow win against Saracens on Saturday. https://t.co/s7p2SKrDnv
Tally so far this weekend in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. French Top 14 - 4 wins (Plus one draw) English Premiership - 5 wins URC - 4 wins (Plus one draw) The one other game saw the Cheetahs from the Currie Cup win away to Zebre.
Tally so far this weekend in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. French Top 14 - 4 wins (Plus one draw) English Premiership - 5 wins URC - 4 wins (Plus one draw) The one other game so the Cheetahs from the Currie Cup win away to Zebre.
A successful weekend for South Africa in European cup rugby so far. Bulls 27, Saracens 16. Zebre 15, Cheetahs 33. Sharks 45, Pau 5. But tough tests ahead today, with the Stormers away to Leicester and Lions out in Perpignan.
John Plumtree lauded the effort of Lukhanyo Am and Eben Etzebeth after the World Cup-winning duo helped the Sharks thrash Pau in Durban on Saturday. https://t.co/Pit0f9AQtQ
Follow the live action as the Blitzboks race into the Cape Town Sevens playoffs at DHL Stadium. 🇿🇦 ⚡ https://t.co/TzWy8wreK3
💪 Springboks inspire Sharks and Cheetahs to stunning wins while Gloucester end losing streak. ✍️ Read our round-up of yesterday's #ChallengeCupRugby action. https://t.co/kmAAlFaNWj https://t.co/kmAAlFaNWj
💪 Springboks inspire Sharks and Cheetahs to stunning wins while Gloucester end losing streak. ✍️ Read our round-up of today's #ChallengeCupRugby action. https://t.co/kmAAlFaNWj https://t.co/kmAAlFaNWj
Bulls 27 Saracens 16 Billy Vunipola was sent off as the English champions suffered a setback in their hunt for another European title against a South African side that proved they are real contenders. Read the report 🔽 https://t.co/kZ44lj7NXK
Bulls vs Saracens: Billy Vunipola sent off as away side blown away @Saracens @BlueBullsRugby @ChampionsCup https://t.co/mt3Odd0oTR
Billy Vunipola sees red as Bulls cruise to win over Saracens in Champions Cup https://t.co/De6ca2zRxq
💬 “Bonkers decision, glancing blow.” 🟥 Billy Vunipola red-carded after ‘reckless’ clear-out against Bulls. #InvestecChampionsCup https://t.co/WXEWXCt3TG https://t.co/WXEWXCt3TG
The Vodacom Bulls streaked to an early lead against Saracens and then held on to launch their 2023-24 Champions Cup campaign with a win in Pretoria on Saturday. https://t.co/Y4SnjRyqVY
World Cup winners Mapimpi, Am & Etzebeth were among the try scorers as Sharks ran over Pau in Durban. #ChallengeCup #SHAvSEC 🔗 https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/egAPeq5Hja
World Cup winners Mapimpi, Am & Etzebeth were among the try scorers as Sharks ran over Pau in Durban. #ChallengeCup #SHAvSEC https://t.co/auy9usN0g9
Lukhanyo Am and Eben Etzebeth scored two tries apiece as the Sharks launched their maiden Challenge Cup foray with a bonus-point mauling of Pau in Durban on Saturday. https://t.co/tst3dDGwrA
Follow the live action as the @Vodacom Bulls kick off their #InvestecChampionsCup campaign against Saracens. #BULvSAR https://t.co/eLmuzMtEmr
Ruan Pienaar kicked 18 points to help the Cheetahs open the 2023-24 European Challenge Cup with a comprehensive victory over Zebre in Parma on Saturday. https://t.co/QSAR1e6XsA
🔴 Toulouse v Cardiff🔵#TOUvCAR 🛀 Bath v Ulster⚪️ #BATvULS 🦈 Sharks v Pau 🟢 #SHAvPAU 🔷 Castres v Scarlets🔴 #CASvSCA 🔢 Follow the #InvestecChampionsCup and #ChallengeCupRugby live, here. 👉 https://t.co/f1r4ZT4YS9 https://t.co/OaNOyJMjDH
FULL-TIME: 🦓 Zebre 15 - 33 Cheetahs 🐆 What a win for the South Africans, dominant from start to finish. Zebre have now conceded 125 points in their last three games, all against South African opponents. MOTM: 🐆 Ruan Pienaar - Like the finest of wines. #ChallengeCupRugby