The Sharks have their sights set on a second title, while the Cheetahs will look to make a statement in the EPCR Challenge Cup that kicks off this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
ALSO READ: Champions Cup Predictions – Round 1
From renewed rivalries and knockout rematches to highly anticipated first-time encounters, Round One promises a thrilling start to the campaign, with South Africa’s representatives joined by clubs from England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The 18 clubs have been split into three pools of six, with two TOP 14 clubs in each pool. Clubs from the same United Rugby Championship Shield and from the PREM, as well as the two invitees, have been kept apart.
The four highest-ranked clubs from each pool will qualify for the knockout stage, where they will be joined by the clubs who finished fifth in their respective Investec Champions Cup pools.
Both South African sides start their campaigns in France. The Sharks face Lyon at the intimidating Matmut Stadium de Gerland on Saturday, while the Cheetahs collide with Bayonne at Stade Jean Dauger.
Dragons vs Perpignan
Friday, 16 October – 21:00
The Dragons were the surprise package of last season, shocking all and sundry by making it all the way to the semi-finals.
The Welsh side get an opportunity at a do-over as this clash, as it’s a repeat of last season’s Round One meeting when Perpignan came out on top.
The Dragons have won two of their three head-to-head meetings with the French club at Rodney Parade and with the lesson of last season learnt, they should prevail.
Prediction: Dragons by 3.
Edinburgh vs Toulon
Friday, 16 October – 21:00
Edinburgh play host to 2023 champions Toulon in another intriguing reunion. The sides met in last season’s Investec Champions Cup, with Edinburgh claiming a memorable 33-20 bonus-point victory.
In fact, given Toulon’s pedigree, many would be surprised to hear that they’ve never beaten the side from the Scottish capital. Edinburgh have outscored the French giants by 101 points to 51 in their three previous encounters, and as the team in better form at the moment, they are my pick to pip it.
Prediction: Edinburgh by 2.
Lyon vs Sharks
Saturday, 17 October – 14:00
The Durbanites are back down in the European second tier after failing to get out of the pool phase in the Investec Champions Cup and failing to qualify for the playoffs in the URC last season, which saw John Plumtree replaced as coach by JP Pietersen in December.
In May 2024, the Sharks famously defeated Gloucester 36–22 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to lift the Challenge Cup trophy, becoming the first South African club to win a European club rugby title.
Now, Pietersen gets his first crack at a full European campaign looking to replicate the heroics of the 2023-24 squad that was spearheaded so impressively by Eben Etzebeth.
The problem for Pietersen is that he’s without a slew of Springboks. Skipper Andre Esterhuizen, Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit are notable absentees from the 28-man touring squad, while Etzebeth, Makazole Mapimpi, Phepsi Buthelezi and Vusi Moyo are on the injured list.
Lyon, who won the competition in 2022, are a tough team to play in their backyard at the best of times, let alone with a depleted squad. Therefore, the writing unfortunately appears to be on the wall for the Sharks as far as their campaign opener is concerned.
Prediction: Lyon by 12 (TBA – check markets).
Black Lion vs Ospreys
Saturday, 17 October – 14:00
Black Lion continue to grow in confidence on the European stage, and this is a chance for them to show how far they’ve come. The Georgian outfit are rugged, intensely physical and incredibly proud at home, where their scrum and maul often become genuine weapons.
The Ospreys made the trip to Tbilisi for this first-time meeting buoyed by a 38-31 win over the Dragons in the URC last weekend. It marked their first away win in nine games, yet it was simply a quick jump to a Welsh rival.
Getting the result all the way in Georgia should be a bridge too far for them.
Prediction: Black Lion by 5 (TBA – check markets).
Zebre vs Ulster
Saturday, 17 October – 16:15
Familiar URC foes face off in Parma.
Both of these teams are winless in their last five matches. Ulster, though, are notches above the Italian minnows and should make it nine wins in 11 games at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi fairly comfortably.
Prediction: Ulster by 10 (TBA – check markets).
Scarlets vs Newcastle Red Bulls
Saturday, 17 October – 21:00
These two teams have met twice previously, with one win apiece. Thus, one can look at their current form as an indication of who should nudge ahead in the head-to-head stakes.
The Scarlets are coming off a 27-26 win over Benetton, while Newcastle arrived in Llanelli after three consecutive defeats. Throw in home ground advantage and the Scarlets should take it.
Prediction: Scarlets by 6 (TBA – check markets).
Bayonne vs Cheetahs
Sunday, 18 October – 14:00
The Cheetahs return to the international stage as one of the two invited teams hungry to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
The Free Staters have twice made it to the Round of 16 and want to give a better representation of who they are and their potential this time around after enduring a winless campaign last season.
Unfortunately, they have a tough opener away from home against an in-form Bayonne, who head into the fixture with three consecutive TOP 14 wins behind them and will be looking to maintain their momentum as they target a strong start to their European campaign.
Eliminated in the semi-finals of the Currie Cup this year, this is a vital campaign for the Cheetahs to silence the growing call from a portion of South African rugby supporters – especially those in Kimberley – that the men from Bloemfontein should make way for the back-to-back Currie Cup champion Griquas.
With Springbok fan favourite Faf de Klerk in their ranks, the Cheetahs should have more direction this season, but with the form Bayonne is in, you’d have to think the home team will triumph.
Prediction: Bayonne by 15 (TBA – check markets).
Harlequins vs Vannes
Sunday, 18 October – 14:00
Sunday’s action features one of the most successful clubs in Challenge Cup history, as three-time champions Harlequins – joint-record winners of the competition – host Vannes at Twickenham Stoop.
Both of these teams will be driven by desperation as they sit at the foot of the PREM and TOP 14 tables, respectively. That said, Quins are in a different class and will enjoy the sweet taste of victory they long for.
Prediction: Harlequins by 15 (TBA – check markets).
Castres vs Benetton
Sunday, 18 October – 18:30
The opening weekend concludes with a compelling clash at Stade Pierre-Fabre.
The sides are no strangers to EPCR competition, having met several times previously, most recently in 2025 when Castres eliminated Benetton in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16.
Expect them to be too strong for their Italian visitors at home.
Prediction: Castres by 10 (TBA – check markets).
Quintin van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 20 years of experience.
