Fourie: Stormers to stamp authority in France
One of five DHL Stormers players with Champions Cup experience, Deon Fourie says the Vodacom United Rugby Championship title-holders are looking to make a statement against Clermont on Saturday.
One of five DHL Stormers players with Champions Cup experience, Deon Fourie says the Vodacom United Rugby Championship title-holders are looking to make a statement against Clermont on Saturday.
Vodacom Bulls boss Jake White has been giving his players a crash course in the Heineken Champions Cup as his Vodacom United Rugby Championship high-flyers prepare for their European debut.
Springbok star Handre Pollard believes the South African teams will take the Heineken Champions Cup to “a completely different level”, just as they have done with the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
With South African teams set to debut in the Champions and Challenge cups this week, England prop Joe Marler has raised an eyebrow at playing a European competition in the Republic.
Frans Malherbe and Marvin Orie have been omitted from a 26-man DHL Stormers squad that will travel to France for the Champions Cup match against Clermont on Saturday.
Lionel Mapoe dazzles in this compilation of big plays in the Vodacom URC, and Europe’s top clubs can expect more of the same when South African teams debut in the Champions and Challenge cups.
John Dobson will pick the strongest possible squad to battle three-time silver medalists Clermont on Saturday in the DHL Stormers’ Champions Cup debut.
European rugby chiefs refused to put a deadline on agreement for the creation of a Club World Cup, but remain hopeful the groundbreaking plan will get off the ground.
Thomas du Toit will sit out the Sharks’ European Champions Cup debut after being handed a six-week ban, reduced to three, for his red card in the Boks’ win over England.
With the Vodacom Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Cheetahs joining the EPCR competitions in 2022, let’s look back at the rich history of the Heineken Champions Cup.