The Bulls, Stormers and Lions step into the top tier while the Sharks and Cheetahs embark on their Challenge Cup journeys.
Champions Cup: Home fortresses and a French baptism
Bulls vs Stade Francais
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Saturday, 14:00
The Bulls host the French side after a dominant 57-15 URC win over the Lions, while Stade Francais have had a mixed start to their 2026 Top 14 campaign but did beat Montpellier 30-22 last time out.
Johan Ackermann's side has named a strong team, with Handre Pollard at flyhalf and young fullback Luan Giliomee making his first start. Elrigh Louw captains a powerful pack that includes Cameron Hanekom, Marco van Staden and Cobus Wiese.
Stade Francais can score from anywhere and have a solid set-piece, but the altitude, heat and home crowd at Loftus should favour the hosts.
The Bulls previously thrashed them 48-7 at the same venue and a statement win is the clear target as they look to build a fortress at home after indifferent European results in recent seasons.
Stormers vs Bristol Bears
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – Saturday, 16:15
John Dobson's side enter on the back of a 39-22 win over the Sharks and have selected six Springboks in the starting XV - a clear sign of how seriously they are taking the Champions Cup this season.
Siya Kolisi, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and the returning Evan Roos all start the match as they go all-in chasing their first European semi-final.
Bristol, coached by Pat Lam, are a dangerous, organised side with a strong maul and attacking flair. They have already shown they can win in South Africa, beating the Bulls last season, and Dobson has warned of their “British Bulldog” grit and defensive intensity. This is a first meeting between the teams, and a home win would give the Stormers an ideal platform in a tough pool.
La Rochelle vs Lions
Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle – Saturday, 18:30
The Lions make their Champions Cup debut against the two-time winners in one of the toughest possible assignments. Fresh from a heavy 57-15 URC defeat to the Bulls, Ivan van Rooyen's side must reset quickly.
Assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher emphasised the need for a strong start to quieten the passionate home crowd and match La Rochelle's physicality at the set-piece and breakdown.
La Rochelle sit high in the Top 14 standings and remain a formidable force at home. The Lions will look to play with tempo and rediscover their attacking identity, but securing any points on the road would represent a significant achievement in a pool that also includes Toulouse, Saracens and Exeter.
Challenge Cup: French away days for the Sharks and Cheetahs
Lyon vs Sharks
Matmut Stadium, Lyon – Saturday, 14:00
The 2023-24 Challenge Cup winners travel to face a vulnerable Lyon side that has lost three straight Top 14 matches. The Sharks have rested several Springboks, including Eben Etzebeth, Andre Esterhuizen and Ox Nche, and but still boast a strong team that includes Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka and the Hendrikse brothers.
Lyon place high importance on European competition and are expected to field a competitive side. Travelling has always proven difficult in European competition and the Sharks know the challenge of French away trips but will be motivated to start their campaign positively after a mixed start to the United Rugby Championship season.
Bayonne vs Cheetahs
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne – Sunday, 14:00 SAST
The Free State side face a stiff test against a Bayonne team sitting fifth in the Top 14 and are traditionally strong at home. The Cheetahs, under Frans Steyn, have said they learned from a narrow loss to Racing 92 last season and are here to compete, not just participate.
Victor Sekekete and company will need to match Bayonne's physicality up front, with new signings and returning experience, including Henry Immelman, bolstering the touring group. A competitive showing, even without a win in France, would set a positive tone for their pool campaign.
The bigger picture
South African teams have never reached a Champions Cup semi-final, and the compressed four-round pool format leaves little room for error this time around, but it also means they can field stronger teams in the group stage.
Home advantage for the Bulls and Stormers offers the best chance of early points, while the Lions, Sharks and Cheetahs must dig deep on the road in France.
New rules this season, including an attacking bonus point for scoring three or more tries than the opposition, should encourage positive rugby, while squad management remains critical with the international window approaching and URC fixtures continuing after this weekend.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has challenged the Bulls' emerging talents to back themselves as he explained his team selection for Saturday's Champions Cup opener against Stade Français at Loftus Versfeld.
Handre Pollard returns at flyhalf and Luan Giliomee earns his first start at fullback as the Bulls named their team for Saturday's Investec Champions Cup opener against Stade Francais.
Damian Willemse says the Stormers are determined to go beyond the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup this season as they target a historic first European title.
The Sharks will begin their overseas campaign with an opportunity to test their squad depth, with JP Pietersen naming a 28-man group for three successive matches in France, Wales and Ireland.
