Overview
- The Stormers triumphed 26–17 in Bayonne to start their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a valuable away result.
- A 20-minute red card for Adré Smith and a yellow for Leolin Zas left the visitors with 14, then 13 men, as Bayonne briefly turned a 16–5 deficit into a 17–16 lead.
- Imad Khan and Paul de Villiers scored the Stormers’ tries, while Clinton Swart kicked four penalties and two conversions for a decisive 16-point haul.
- Key officiating moments shaped the match, with a Bayonne try ruled out for obstruction and a late Swart penalty confirmed only after review.
- Coach John Dobson praised resilience and squad depth but flagged discipline as a concern as the team returns home to face La Rochelle in Gqeberha.