European Professional Club Rugby

The Hollywoodbets Sharks kept the South African flag flying on the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup, which saw defeats for the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls, while the Toyota Cheetahs managed a draw and the Emirates Lions slipped to a defeat in Wales in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

HSBC SVNS Cape Town

Hosts South Africa beat Olympic champions France 26-14 to win a thriller of a men’s final and claim their first HSBC SVNS title in Cape Town in nine years, while New Zealand beat USA 26-12 to take women's title and lead the world series standings.

Review

The semi-finalists were confirmed at the end of a thrilling first day at HSBC SVNS Cape Town and there was joy for the fervent home crowd as South Africa put both Argentina and Ireland to the sword to set up a men’s semi-final clash with Spain who continued the fine form that saw them reach their first world series final in Dubai last weekend.

European Professional Club Rugby

South Africa’s domestic franchises will launch their 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup campaigns this weekend in a jam-packed round of action.

Tournament news

The Springbok Women’s Sevens team will start their quest to regain their HSBC SVNS status in Cape Town in March 2025 when the first two of World Rugby’s HSBC Sevens Challenger tournaments take place in the Mother City.