The Hollywoodbets Sharks have already made history in Europe. Now, they return to the EPCR Challenge Cup with another campaign to pursue - and a title they know what it takes to win.
In May 2024, the Sharks defeated Gloucester Rugby 36–22 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to lift the trophy, becoming the first South African club to win a European club rugby title.
But how does the competition work? From the pool stage to the knockout rounds, here is your guide to the EPCR Challenge Cup.
18 Clubs. Three Pools. One Trophy.
The 2026/27 EPCR Challenge Cup features 18 clubs drawn into three pools of six, bringing together teams from the United Rugby Championship, France’s TOP 14 and England’s Gallagher PREM, alongside invited clubs.
The Sharks are in Pool 2, alongside Benetton Rugby, Lyon Olympique Universitaire Rugby, Newcastle Red Bulls, Castres Olympique and the Scarlets.
Each club plays four pool-stage matches against different opponents, home or away. Every result matters as teams compete for a place in the knockout stages.
Four Weekends to Make Your Mark
The pool stage takes place across four match weekends. Clubs collect match points as they look to secure qualification for the Round of 16.
The three highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify automatically. Three additional places go to the clubs with the highest match-point totals across the pools, regardless of their finishing position. Four clubs eliminated from the Investec Champions Cup also enter the Challenge Cup at the Round of 16.
That means a strong pool campaign is essential - but the race for qualification can remain alive beyond the top three in each pool.
The Road to the Final
Once the pool stage is complete, the competition becomes a knockout tournament.
Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final
Win and advance. Lose and the European campaign is over.
The 2026/27 Challenge Cup reaches its conclusion in Lyon, France, with the final scheduled for Friday, 21 May 2027, at OL Stadium.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks Know What It Takes
The Sharks have already experienced the feeling of lifting this trophy.
Their 2024 final victory over Gloucester was built on a powerful collective performance. Phepsi Buthelezi, Aphelele Fassi and Makazole Mapimpi scored the Sharks’ tries, while Siya Masuku contributed 21 points with the boot.
That triumph secured the club’s place in European rugby history and demonstrated what a South African side could achieve on the continental stage.
Now, the Sharks return to the competition with a new group of challenges ahead. The destination is familiar. The journey must be earned all over again.
The Challenge Starts Here
The Hollywoodbets Sharks begin their 2026/27 campaign away to Lyon Olympique Universitaire Rugby on Saturday, 17 October, before returning to Hollywoodbets Kings Park for their next home assignment in the competition, against Scarlets on 12 December.
Four pool matches stand between the Sharks and the knockout stages. From there, every game brings them a step closer to the trophy.
The objective is clear: compete, qualify and give themselves another chance to make European history.
The Sharks have won it before. Now, the journey begins again.
