The five South African teams participating in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions will face a fresh challenge this weekend as they switch focus to Europe.
The Bulls, Stormers, and Lions will run out in the Champions Cup competition, while the Sharks – who were crowned the champions in the 2023/24 season – and the Cheetahs will battle it out in the Challenge Cup.
All three Champions Cup teams will take the field on Saturday, with the Bulls facing Stade Francais in Pretoria (14:00), followed by the clash between the Stormers and Bristol Bears in Cape Town (16:15), while the Lions face a tough task in France when they make their debut in the top echelon of European rugby against former champions Stade Rochelais in La Rochelle (18:30).
In the EPCR Challenge Cup, both matches will play out in France, with the Sharks taking the field first when they line up against LOU Rugby in Lyon on Saturday (14:00), while the Cheetahs will battle it out with Aviron Bayonnais, with that match kicking off at 14:00 on Sunday in Bayonne.
HERE ARE ALL THE MATCH DETAILS TO NOTE IN THE CHAMPIONS CUP AND CHALLENGE CUP
Champions Cup
Bulls v Stade Francais
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 14:00
Referee: Christophe Ridley
TV: SuperSport
Stormers v Bristol Bears
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 16:15
Referee: Kevin Bralley
TV: SuperSport
Stade Rochelais v Lions
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Venue: Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle
SA Time: 18:30
Referee: Sam Grove-White
TV: SuperSport
EPCR Challenge Cup
LOU Rugby v Sharks
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
Venue: Matmut Stadium, Lyon
SA Time: 14:00
Referee: Federico Vedovelli
TV: SuperSport
Aviron Bayonnais v Cheetahs
Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
Venue: Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
SA Time: 14:00
Referee: Peter Martin
TV: SuperSport
Rule changes for the 2026/27 season
· Offensive Bonus Point: A team will now be awarded an attacking bonus point when it scores three or more tries than its opponent.
· Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 qualification: The top three clubs in each pool will automatically qualify, while the remaining four places will be awarded to the four clubs with the highest number of match points across all four pools, regardless of which pool they are in.
· EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 qualification: The three highest-ranked clubs in each pool will qualify automatically for the Round of 16. The remaining three places will go to the three clubs with the highest number of match points across all three pools, regardless of which pool they are in. Four clubs will also drop down from the Investec Champions Cup to join the Round of 16.