South Africans are vying for this trophy in the Champions Cup Getty Images copy

The Champions Cup trophy. Photo: Getty Images

SA teams to take flight or get bounced in Euro play-offs?

It’s set to be a blockbuster weekend of European play-off rugby this weekend. Here are the key details to note about the South African teams’ participation. Plan your schedule accordingly.

by Mariette Adams

02-04-2024 18:18

in Rugby

The Champions Cup trophy. Photo: Getty Images

With the back-end of the rugby season now in full swing, the European play-offs will take centre stage this weekend, while the Hong Kong Sevens festival will also be on show.

The European play-offs — across the two premier competitions — will feature all five of the big South African franchise teams.

In the Champions Cup, the Stormers will host the defending champions La Rochelle at Cape Town Stadium in a rematch of their dramatic pool encounter last December at the same venue, after finishing second in the Pool 4, which was labelled the pool of death.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will welcome Lyon to Loftus Versfeld after as the second and third-ranked qualifiers from Pool 1.

In the Challenge Cup, the Sharks and Cheetahs finished first and third, respectively, in Pool 1 to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament, while the Lions scraped through in fourth spot in Pool 2 to stay in the hunt.

The Cheetahs will take on French side Clermont away from home, as will the Lions when they face Benetton Treviso in Italy; the Sharks will host Italian club Zebre at Kings Park.

In the abbreviated form of the game, the Blitzboks and the Springbok Women’s Sevens side will look to get their series campaigns back on track. The women’s side have been grouped in Pool B alongside Australia, Fiji and Ireland, and the men’s team will come up against old foes Samoa and Ireland as well as Spain at the Hong Kong Sevens taking place from 5 to 7 April.