Overview
- Round one fixtures are set: Stormers visit Bayonne on Friday, the Bulls host defending champions Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday, and the Sharks travel to Toulouse on Sunday.
- Handré Pollard starts at flyhalf in a Springbok-laden Bulls squad featuring a 6–2 bench split and 13 Boks overall, with Bordeaux acknowledging Pretoria’s altitude after a week of acclimatisation.
- Springbok prop Ntuthuko Mchunu makes his Stormers debut in Bayonne alongside returning Bok Ben-Jason Dixon, while Bayonne hand former Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies the No 9 jersey.
- The Sharks test new combinations at Toulouse with Nick Hatton captaining and four debutants named across the matchday 23 against the Top 14 leaders.
- The Blitzboks target a response at the Cape Town Sevens with Nabo Sokoyi replacing Mfundo Ndhlovu and pool matches against Fiji, New Zealand and Great Britain.