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44m ago

Stormers Advance as Bath Clinch Top Seed and Toulouse Rout Sale to Shape Last-16 Field

Bonus-point swings proved pivotal, eliminating the Sharks despite a 50-12 win.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 03: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls at DHL Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images)
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CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 17: André-Hugo Venter of the Stormers scores a try during the Investec Champions Cup match between DHL Stormers and Leicester Tigers at DHL Stadium on January 17, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Investec Champions Cup Round 4, Stade du Hameau, Pau, France 16/1/2026 Pau vs Vodacom Bulls Vodacom Bulls players celebrate the full time whistle Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Overview

  • Bath thrashed injury-hit Edinburgh 63-10 to secure a nine-try bonus and top seeding from Pool 2.
  • The Stormers beat Leicester 39-26 in Cape Town to book a last-16 place, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu captaining and scoring seven points.
  • Toulouse crushed Sale 77-7 to qualify from Pool 1, a result that knocked out the Sharks later on the same day.
  • The Sharks had earlier routed Clermont 50-12 in Durban for a bonus-point win that briefly lifted them to fourth in Pool 1 before Toulouse’s victory.
  • The Bulls stayed alive with a 26-24 comeback at Pau and now await Scarlets’ trip to Northampton, while Leinster’s 22-13 win at Bayonne secured home advantage in the last 16.