BACK ON HOME GROUNDS
WELCOME MESSAGE INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
2025/26
Welcome back to the Investec Champions Cup, the greatest international club rugby competition in the world. A new season begins and once again the stage is set for drama, intensity and moments that stay with us long after the final whistle.
Last year set new standards. One million supporters filled our stadiums, 70 million watched the action broadcast in over 100 territories and Union Bordeaux Bègles lifted the trophy for the first time after a breathtaking campaign. Records fell, new stars rose and the competition once again proved why it sets the global benchmark for intensity and excellence.
This 31st edition carries that momentum forward. The road to the 2026 Final in Bilbao starts here, in packed grounds across Europe, South Africa and beyond, where every point matters and every match can shift the entire season. From returning giants to rising contenders, the competition is more unpredictable than ever. EPCR continues to drive international club rugby forward. Our impACT strategy pushes us towards carbonneutral Finals, stronger community programmes and meaningful partnerships. Our Ecovadis Silver Medal recognises this progress and fuels our determination to keep raising the bar on sustainability, ethics and long-term impact.
We are also very grateful to continue our work with our broadcast partners, who connect fans worldwide with the competition. Live coverage is available on Premier Sports in the UK and Ireland, beIN SPORTS in France, SuperSport in South Africa, S4C in the UK and FloRugby in the USA and Canada, with some free-toair matches available on France Télévisions. Supporters can also follow the action through EPCRugby.TV, our own OTT platform.
Whether you are watching in the stadium or following from afar, thank you for being part of this journey. Your energy and passion power everything we do.
And finally, nothing would be possible without the commitment of our partners. We warmly thank Investec, Heineken, Emirates, DHL, Georgia Tourism, JAECOO, Gilbert, and Macron for standing with us and helping elevate this competition season after season.
Enjoy the game, enjoy the rivalry, enjoy the return of extraordinary.
Yours in rugby, Dominic McKay, EPCR Chairman
SIYA KOLISI IN CORRIDOR
END OF AN ERA, FRESH BEGINNINGS
WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP
Not only is today’s home encounter with English club Saracens a vitally important match for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in terms of their Investec Champions Cup aspirations, but it also heralds a new era for the proud Durban-based franchise…
John Plumtree announced ahead of last weekend’s Investec Champions Cup opener against Toulouse in France that he would be stepping away from his role as head coach of the Hollywoodbets Sharks, with one of his former players and Springbok Rugby World Cup winner, JP Pietersen, taking over the reins as interim coach for the rest of the season as of today.
Plumtree, who has been a loyal servant of the men in black and white for almost 40 years, first as a player during the glory era of the 1990s and then as Currie Cup champion coach in the 2000s, took the decision with a view to the long-term success and stability of the franchise.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks suffered a 19-56 defeat at the hands of the six-time champion Toulouse in their opening game of the Champions Cup on Sunday. Still, it is worth noting that Plumtree was forced
to field a young and inexperienced team due to SA Rugby's resting protocols.
Even so, 22-year-old Nick Hatton and his youthful charges did themselves and the organisation proud by stubbornly refusing to toss in the towel. As a matter of fact, they fought back from 0-28 down, after barely 20 minutes, to reduce the deficit to a mere 1228 in the third quarter.
Today, as Pietersen takes charge for the first time, the Hollywoodbets Sharks are not only back on home turf in front of the faithful at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, they are also welcoming back a host of Springboks following South Africa’s successful and unbeaten series of autumn internationals in the northern hemisphere.
Pietersen, who has already exhibited inspirational leadership qualities as an agegroup and Carling Currie Cup coach over the past few years, will be intent on getting his
tenure underway today by maximising homeground advantage and the long-overdue injection of experience against the club from north London.
Saracens, who are currently lying sixth on the PREM Rugby (previously Premiership Rugby) table, got their Champions Cup campaign off to a rousing start last Saturday at StoneX Stadium with a comprehensive 47-10 bonus-point win against French outfit, Clermont Auvergne.
Next week, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship resumes for a couple of local derbies, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks hosting the Bulls on December 20 and playing the Lions away from home three days into 2026.
JP PIETERSEN, TAKING OVER THE REINS AS INTERIM COACH...
Only two more Champions Cup pool games remain in January, away against the Sale Sharks on the 10th and at home against Clermont Auvergne a week later.
The importance of ensuring a home win against Saracens today, therefore, goes without saying, not only to qualify for hosting a Round of 16 fixture in early April, but also to get former Bok flyer Pietersen’s tenure as Hollywoodbets Sharks’ coach off to a flying start.
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS SARACENS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN THE WORLD?
The Times in London this week suggested that André Esterhuizen “may just be the most valuable player in rugby right now” because of the Bok star’s newfound ability to play both centre and flanker at the highest level. Nicknamed “André The Giant”, the marauding midfielder certainly is worth his 124 kg in gold for the Hollywoodbets Sharks, which is why he is celebrating 100 caps in black today…
It is appropriate that Esterhuizen marks a century of caps for the Hollywoodbets Sharks against Saracens today, as it was against the selfsame north London club that he celebrated his senior baptism of fire with a try in a pre-season friendly at Allianz Park (now StoneX Stadium) in February 2014.
Interestingly, The Guardian debated back then whether that fixture could have been a “prototype for an Anglo-South African competition”, which, less than a decade later, became a reality with South Africa’s involvement in both the Investec Champions Cup and Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Esterhuizen could well have accumulated almost twice as many caps for the Hollywoodbets Sharks by now, had it not been for his highly successful stint with London-based Harlequins from 2020 to 2024. He starred for Quins with a crucial try in the 40-38 win against defending champions, Exeter Chiefs, in the final of the Premiership in 2021, and went on to represent the English club on 90 occasions.
“A fearsome centre, destructive on either side of the ball, Andre 'The Giant' Esterhuizen has established himself as one of the best players in the Premiership,” reads his profile on https://www.quins.co.uk.
Since his return to Durban last year, Esterhuizen has been nothing short of a revelation, while he has transitioned during the recent international season into a hulk of a hybrid weapon for the Springboks.
The Independent recently described Esterhuizen as “a super-sized centre now also seen as a loose forward option for the Springboks.
“His natural stature lends itself, of course, to the role, but the tactical possibilities he presents clearly intrigue (Rassie) Erasmus – if his Springboks are to play faster and looser, Esterhuizen’s presence in a 23 can allow him to use him both in his natural position at centre or as part of the so-called ‘Bomb Squad’, depending on what the situation dictates,” the article observes.
With 29 test caps for South Africa already under his belt, Esterhuizen has acknowledged that reaching 100 caps for the Hollywoodbets Sharks is a “massive honour” for him.
“I was always going to come back after my stint with Quins, and I’m just excited for today,” he said during a media briefing earlier in the week.
“A lot has happened at the Hollywoodbets Sharks of late, but everyone is focused on getting the team back to where we should be. Today sees another Investec Champions Cup game, which is tough regardless of who you play against, and against a quality outfit
like Saracens, we want to go out and perform to the best of our ability.
“We haven’t been up to scratch so far this season, and we are committed to seeing our game evolve and improving as a team.”
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES HOLLYWOODBETS
APHELELE FASSI
HANRO JACOBS WEIGHT: 121KG BORN: 04/05/1989 HEIGHT: 1.78m VINCENT TSHITUKA PHEPSI BUTHELEZI
BORN: 10/11/1998 HEIGHT: 1.95m BORN: 30/05/1999 HEIGHT: 1.86m WEIGHT: 107KG WEIGHT: 105KG
GRANT WILLIAMS BORN: 22/06/1996 HEIGHT: 1.74m WEIGHT: 77KG
EDWILL VAN DER MERWE BORN:12/04/1996 HEIGHT: 1.80m WEIGHT: 90KG
BORN: 23/01/1998 HEIGHT: 1.89 m WEIGHT: 87KG EDUAN SWART LEE-MARVIN MAZIBUKO
BORN: 20/10/2000 HEIGHT: 1.86 m
MDANDA MARVIN ORIE MATT ROMAO NICK HATTON
BORN: 15/02/1993 HEIGHT: 2.01 m BORN: 27/07/2005 HEIGHT: 1.91 m BORN: 17/01/2003 HEIGHT: 1.91m
BORN: 23/03/2000 HEIGHT: 1.84m WEIGHT: 83KG
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS
SARACENS
APHELELE FASSI
EDWILL VAN DER MERWE
ETHAN HOOKER
ANDRE ESTERHUIZEN ( C )
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI
GEORGE WHITEHEAD
GRANT WILLIAMS
PHEPSI BUTHELEZI
VINCENT TSHITUKA
SIYA KOLISI
EMILE VAN HEERDEN
JASON JENKINS
HANRO JACOBS
BONGI MBONAMBI
PHATU GANYANE
EDUAN SWART
LEE-MARVIN MAZIBUKO
MAWANDE MDANDA
MARVIN ORIE
MATT ROMAO NICK HATTON
JADEN HENDRIKSE
JORDAN HENDRIKSE
KICK
OLLY
WILSON NICK ISIEKWE MARCO RICCIONI
MAWI
HADFIELD
O DRISCOLL MARCUS STREET HUGH TIZARD NATHAN MICHELOW
ASSISTANT REFEREES KEVIN BRALLEY, FLAVIEN HOURQUET
CASTEIGNEDE
SARACENS PLAYER PROFILES SARACENS PLAYER PROFILES
BORN: 06/10/1999 HEIGHT: 1.78m WEIGHT: 105 KG
BORN: 27/11/1997 HEIGHT: 1.80m
1.78m
BORN: 28/12/1996 HEIGHT: 1.80m WEIGHT: 93KG
BORN: 04/04/2004 HEIGHT: 1.88m
BORN: 08/10/1992 HEIGHT: 1.78m
BORN: 16/05/2004 HEIGHT: 1.89m
BORN: 31/03/2000 HEIGHT: 1.96m WEIGHT: 102KG WEIGHT: 120KG
98KG WEIGHT: 111KG WEIGHT: 104KG WEIGHT: 117KG WEIGHT: 83KG WEIGHT: 93KG
BORN: 06/02/1999 HEIGHT: 1.85m BORN: 02/11/1997 HEIGHT: 1.78m
WEIGHT: 107KG BORN: 07/01/1998 HEIGHT: 1.88m
30/06/1993 HEIGHT: 1.85m
ANGUS HALL
THEO DAN
RICCIONI
HARRY WILSON
CHARLIE BRACKEN
ERONI MAWI
NATHAN MICHELOW
HUGH TIZARD
ROTIMI SEGUN
SAM SPINK
ELLIOT DALY
ALEX O DRISCOLL
JAMES HADFIELD
MARCUS STREET
GARETH SIMPSON
LOZOWSKI
MAJOR MATCHUP WILLIAMS VS BRACKEN
England fans will have vivid memories of Grant Williams bamboozling half a dozen defenders with blistering pace from 30 metres out for a sensational solo try in South Africa’s 29-29 triumph at Twickenham last year.
Some pundits reckon that Williams might be the fastest player in world rugby. With his eye for the gap and lightning pace off the mark, the 29-year-old has certainly established himself as one of the best halfbacks in the business.
In addition to his attacking attributes, Williams’ experience will be a key component for the Hollywoodbets Sharks today as they aim to get their Investec Champions Cup campaign off the ground.
Charlie Bracken is one of the upcoming stars of English rugby, and he has the necessary pedigree, too.
He is the 22-year-old son of Kyran Bracken, who turned out at scrumhalf for England on 51 occasions from 1993 to 2003, and who was a member of Sir Clive Woodward’s Rugby World Cup-winning outfit in 2003.
Bracken Jr. has represented England at the U18 and U20 levels in the Six Nations and the U20 Rugby World Cup and made his senior debut for Saracens three years ago. He was named in the senior England training squad for the first time earlier this year.
FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA
THE OTHER ‘MEN IN BLACK’
The Hollywoodbets Sharks and Saracens not only enjoy a power-ful strategic and commercial alliance, pertaining to knowledge sharing, community initiatives and player welfare, but both outfits are also affectionately known as “Men in Black”.
Although Durban did host Saracens in the Shark Tank for a pre-season tour in September this year, which involved a friendly fixture played against the Hollywoodbets Sharks as a curtain-raiser to a Carling Currie Cup game, this is the first time that the English rug-by giants will be in action in a league match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Did you know:
* Saracens have won 11 major trophies, including three Investec Champions Cup ti-tles (2016, 2017 and 2019), while they have also been crowned PREM Rugby (previ-ously Premiership Rugby) champions on six occasions.
* The North London club was established almost 150 years ago, in 1876, by old boys of the Philological School (later St Marylebone Grammar School) in London. According to folklore, the name “Saracens” is derived from the "endurance, enthusiasm and per-ceived invincibility of Saladin's desert warriors of the 12th century”.
* Following their debut match against Blackheath, however, Saracens had to wait anoth-er nine years before Harlequins offered to include them on their fixture list. Saracens initially found it tough to organise games against firstclass opponents, since the facili-ties at their Bramley Road home ground were poor.
* One of the most memorable matches at Bramley Road was in 1971, when Saracens played a composite World XV, selected for the Rugby Football Union Centenary and which included Springboks like Frik du Preez and Dawie de Villiers, to a pulsating 34-34 draw.
* In 1995, when Rugby Union turned professional, property mogul Nigel Wray invested heavily in Saracens to help transform the club into one of the powerhouses of Europe-an club rugby. Two years later, Saracens started sharing the bigger Vicarage Road Sta-dium with Watford Football Club.
* Since 2013, Saracens have been based at Barnet Copthall Stadium (currently known as StoneX Stadium for sponsorship purposes).
* Two of South Africa’s Rugby World Cup-winning captains, Francois Pienaar and John Smit, both represented Saracens on more than 40 occasions. Pienaar piloted the club to the Pilkington Cup in 1998, while Smit turned out for the “Men in Black” from 2011 to 2013.
WELCOME TO
THE SHARKS ACADEMY
THE SHARKS ACADEMY IS A WORLD-CLASS SOCCER AND RUGBY ACADEMY WHICH IS BACKED BY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHARKS.
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INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP FIXTURES
