All team line-ups, kick-off times for Champions Cup clashes

Five South African franchises will enter new rugby territory on Saturday when the take the field in the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup competitions in a watershed moment for SA rugby.

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The three SA franchises will make their Champions Cup debuts on Saturday with the Sharks meeting Harlequins at Hollywoodbets Kings Park at 15h00, while the Stormers take on Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin at 17h15, and the Bulls lock horns with Lyon at Loftus Versfeld at 19h30.

Meanwhile, the Lions will get their first taste of European action against the Dragons in their EPCR Challenge Cup clash at 12h45 on Saturday at Emirates Airline Park, while the Cheetahs will meet Section Paloise at 15h00 at Stade du Hameau in Pau.

These are the team lineups for the Champions Cup:

Bulls: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morne Steyn (captain), 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Muller Uys, 7 WJ Steenkamp, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Keegan Johannes, 22 Chris Smit, 23 Juan Mostert.

Sharks: 15 Henry Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Alapati Leuia, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.

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HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP FIXTURES (ROUND 1):

Sharks v Harlequins
Date: Saturday, 10 December
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 15h00
Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
TV: SuperSport

Clermont Auvergne v Stormers
Date: Saturday, 10 December
Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand
SA Time: 17h15
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
TV: SuperSport

Bulls v Lyon
Date: Saturday, 10 December
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 19h30
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
TV: SuperSport

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EPCR CHALLENGE CUP FIXTURES (ROUND 1):

Lions v Dragons
Date: Saturday, 10 December
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
SA Time: 12h45
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
TV: SuperSport

Section Paloise v Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 10 December
Venue: Stade du Hameau, Pau
SA Time: 15h00
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TV: SuperSport

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