The Sharks have full control of their playoff hopes going into the final round of pool fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup this week.
John Plumtree’s charges, along with the Stormers, are still in the race to the Champions Cup last 16 spots, but the Vodacom Bulls’ hopes of advancing to the knockouts were dashed as they suffered their third straight defeat in the competition.
The Cheetahs’ win saw them finish the penultimate pool round in fifth place tied on six points with fourth-placed Perpignan, while the Lions are also in fifth place in their group level on five points with the fourth-placed Dragons.In the Sharks’ pool, they cannot reel in any of the top three teams, leaders Bordeaux, Toulouse or Leicester Tigers.
Harlequins, the Stormers and Sale are even on log points in Pool 4 but the London club has a +14 points-difference, while the Stormers and Sale defer on the tie-breaker.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Stormers Crush Sale Sharks to Keep Champions Cup Hopes AliveThe Stormers secured their first win in the Investec Champions Cup, defeating the Sale Sharks 40-0 in Cape Town. Manie Libbok led the scoring with 13 points, and the Stormers capitalized on Sale's yellow cards to run away with the victory.
Read more »
Bulls hope to use Champions Cup lessons to beat SharksThe Bulls are hoping to use learnings from two Champions Cup defeats to help them get a win over a Springbok laden Sharks on Saturday.
Read more »
Sharks Squad Update: Injury Concerns and Return Timeline for Champions Cup ClashSeveral experienced Sharks rugby players are facing injury concerns ahead of their Champions Cup match against Toulouse on January 11th. While Eben Etzebeth is expected to be fit, Aphelele Fassi and Emile van Heerden are awaiting specialist consultations for their ankle and knee injuries respectively. André Esterhuizen will be sidelined for four to six weeks due to a knee injury. Coach John Plumtree expressed concerns about the long-term impact of the current 12-month playing schedule on players.
Read more »
Sharks Coach Warns of 2027 Rugby World Cup Impact on Older SpringboksSharks coach John Plumtree expresses concern about the impact of the demanding 12-month rugby season on older Springboks players, potentially hindering their participation in the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He cites the recent spate of knee injuries suffered by Sharks players as a prime example of the strain on athletes.
Read more »
URC state of play: Bulls, Sharks in strong position, but Stormers, Lions have work to doAs the URC again breaks for the cup competitions to feature over the next few weeks, the Bulls are SA's best-placed local team.
Read more »
Stormers Prepare for Crucial Champions Cup Clash Against Sale SharksThe Stormers face a critical Champions Cup match against Sale Sharks, aiming to secure points and climb out of the bottom of their pool. They emphasize the need to match the Sharks' physicality and maintain a strong defense throughout the game.
Read more »