Stormers and Bulls secure Champions Cup playoff berths

The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls have officially booked their places in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks will transition to the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs following a high-stakes weekend of European action.

It was a round of mixed fortunes for South African franchises. While the coastal and Pretoria-based teams advanced, there was heartbreak for the Lions and Cheetahs, whose European campaigns came to a dramatic conclusion.

CHAMPIONS CUP: STORMERS AND BULLS ADVANCE

The Vodacom Bulls secured their passage on Friday evening with a gritty 26-24 bonus-point victory against Section Paloise in France. This result sets up a challenging Round of 16 clash against the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland this April.

In Cape Town, the DHL Stormers delivered a commanding performance to defeat the Leicester Tigers 39-26. The win earned them a playoff spot against Toulon, which will also be contested abroad.

CHALLENGE CUP: MIXED RESULTS FOR SHARKS AND LIONS

The Hollywoodbets Sharks produced the most dominant scoreline of the weekend, thrashing Clermont Auvergne 50-12 in Durban. Despite the convincing win, it was not enough to keep them in the top-tier Champions Cup. However, their fifth-place pool finish secures them an EPCR Challenge Cup playoff match against Connacht. The Durbanites will now look to reclaim the title they won two seasons ago.

For the Lions, the weekend ended in frustration. They fought to a 20-20 draw against Perpignan in France, but the result signalled the end of their campaign due to the French side’s superior standing on the table.

In Paris, the Toyota Cheetahs suffered a narrow 31-28 defeat to Racing 92. A late try by the French giants broke South African hearts, ending the Bloemfontein side’s European aspirations for the season.