South African rugby teams, the Stormers and the Sharks, are set to compete in the Champions Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, marking the first time South African sides have participated in the competition. The Champions Cup, launched in 1995 as rugby union turned professional, was previously reserved for European clubs, but the inclusion of the South African teams in the December pool stage has paved the way for this historic quarterfinal match-up.
The Sharks will visit Toulouse, the five-time winners of the tournament, in the quarterfinals, following their victory against the Bulls in last weekend’s last 16. The Stormers, on the other hand, will visit 2020 champions Exeter, who beat Top 14 title holders Montpellier in the last round.
The Stormers’ victory over Munster in Durban last Saturday has earned them a long journey to the UK. However, the difficulty of booking flights at short notice means that the squad will be split into two over almost 24 hours, according to Sharks assistant coach Yannick Bru. He explained that the team does not complain, but the players’ comfort comes second. Bru also added that it’s pointless to say they travel in business class.
The Sharks will be missing scrum-half Jayden Hendrikse and potentially lock Eben Etzebeth due to injuries. Meanwhile, the Stormers will face stalwarts at the English club Exeter, including No 8 Sam Simmonds and winger Jack Nowell, who will leave Sandy Park at the end of the campaign.
The Champions Cup quarterfinals coincide with the Good Friday holiday weekend. Four-time winners Leinster will welcome Premiership champions Leicester at Lansdowne Road on Friday, in front of a restricted crowd of 27,000 in Dublin. The Irish province filled the 52,000-capacity stadium for last Saturday’s win over Ulster. Around 500 Tigers fans will travel to the Irish capital for a rerun of 2009’s final.
On Sunday, champions La Rochelle will host three-time winners Saracens as Australia lock Will Skelton welcomes his former side to the Atlantic coast.
The quarterfinal matches feature some of the world’s top rugby players, including Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, Exeter’s Stuart Hogg, and La Rochelle’s Will Skelton. The teams will compete in matches that will not only determine their Champions Cup fate but also add to the tournament’s environmental impact due to the multiple flights required for the fixtures.
In conclusion, the inclusion of South African teams in the Champions Cup quarterfinals is a historic moment for the competition, marking the first time that the event has featured teams from outside Europe. While the teams face logistical challenges in terms of travel and injuries, they will be competing against some of the world’s best players and aim to put up a strong fight in the quarterfinal matches
Picture Credit: Planet Rugby
