Bulls, Sharks and Lions qualify for EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs
The win might be their only one in the Investec Champions Cup this season, but they will undoubtedly draw immense confidence from the 41-point victory as they prepare to return to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship next weekend.

There was a ray of light for the South African franchises this past weekend as the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and Emirates Lions qualified for the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 following the completion of the pool rounds in both European competitions.
The Emirates Lions secured the most impressive result of the weekend as they thumped the Dragons 60-10 in Johannesburg in their final EPCR Challenge Cup pool game to seal the fourth spot on their log table and cement their place in the Round of 16.
The Vodacom Bulls, who were knocked out of the Investec Champions Cup playoffs last weekend, bounced back strongly to defeat Stade Francais 48-7 in Pretoria, which booked them a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks also dropped out of the Investec Champions Cup with a 66-12 defeat against the Bordeaux-Begles in France, although they too managed to book a spot in the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs.

It was a case of big disappointment for the DHL Stormers who gave everything they had against Racing 92 in Paris but suffered a heart-breaking 31-22 defeat, which ended their 2024/25 European campaign, while the Toyota Cheetahs had their Challenge Cup playoff hopes crushed by a 68-21 defeat against Lyon in France.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks will face Lyon in their Round of 16 clash, while the Vodacom Bulls will meet Aviron Bayonnais, and the Emirates Lions go up against Edinburgh – with all three matches being played abroad on the first weekend of April.
Vodacom Bulls thump Stade Francais in Pretoria
The Vodacom Bulls saved their best performance for last in this edition of the Investec Championship Cup as they scored an impressive seven tries to one for a comprehensive 48-7 victory over Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
While the emphatic victory – their first of the season – was not good enough to earn them the men from Pretoria a place in the top four of their Champions Cup pool, it was sufficient to see them through to the Round of 16 in the Challenge Cup, meaning they are still in the race to clinch some silverware this season.

The Vodacom Bulls scored five first-half tries, while they conceded only one, for an impressive 36-7 halftime lead. The hosts were awarded a penalty try in the second minute with the Frenchman being reduced to 14 men in the process due to foul play, and they added their second five-pointer in the 12th minute compliments of fine finishing by Devon Williams with an extra man on the field.
Their remaining tries were scored in the 18th minute by Embrose Papier, the 27th minute by Ruan Vermaak, and the 39th minute by Elrigh Louw, while they leaked one in the 23rd minute.
The Vodacom Bulls continued to stamp their authority in the second stanza and added two more tries – by Boeta Chamberlain and Cameron Hanekom – by the 50th minute, and denied the visitors a single additional point in what was a much tighter second half to seal the victory.
The win might be their only one in the Investec Champions Cup this season, but they will undoubtedly draw immense confidence from the 41-point victory as they prepare to return to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship next weekend.

Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls 48 (36) – Tries: Penalty try, Devon Williams, Embrose Papier, Ruan Vermaak, Elrigh Louw, Boeta Chamberlain, Cameron Hanekom. Conversions: Johan Goosen (2), Chamberlain (2). Penalty goal: Chamberlain.
Stade Francais Paris 7 (7) – Try: Sekou Macalou. Conversion: Louis Carbonel.
