Challenge Cup: Lions, Cheetahs and Sharks name teams for round one

The Currie Cup-champion Cheetahs return to action for their first Challenge Cup match against Zebre Parma on Saturday at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma, Italy, with kick-off set for 3pm.

Zebre Parma returned home after a two-week tour of South Africa in the URC where they suffered defeats against the Lions and Stormers, meaning they will be eager to right the ship against a Cheetahs team making its first top-class appearance of the new season.

Two of the Cheetahs players that were on loan with Ospreys rugby, Marnus van der Merwe and Rewan Kruger, have reunited with the team in Italy and looking forward to getting it on with the team.

Coach Hawies Fourie said: "We are happy with the squad, as we have said, most players played in the EPCR Challenge Cup last year, they know the conditions, they know what to expect and we have prepared over the last months.

"We would like to go one step further, last year we reached the round of 16 but now want to go to the quarter-finals, the whole squad would agree and see what we can do but we will take it one day at a time."

Captain Victor Sekekete said: "I think having played there for us and staying there has helped us a lot as some players, so we know what we are going to face when we get there at what conditions we are going to face. Starting the EPCR Challenge Cup like that is very fortunate for us and looking forward to getting on with it.

"We are going to focus on the games that they played at home because that's the conditions we are going to face, and that's how they are going to be because I think they have confidence playing at home. We are ready to take on the challenge."

Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Siba Xamlashe, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 George Lourens, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandrè Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Laurence Victor, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Sibabalo Qoma, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Ali Mgijima.

Sharks look to bounce back against Pau in Durban

The Sharks have been bolstered by the return of some of their players back from injury as they venture into their first foray into EPCR Challenge Cup action this weekend, hosting Section Paloise at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.

In changes from last week's side, Ox Nche starts, swapping jerseys with Ntuthuko Mchunu who has carried a heavy workload over the past two months while Kerron van Vuuren returns at hooker.

The Sharks' second-row stocks are up with the return of Le Roux Roets to the team after a long-term injury, where the big imposing player will add value off the bench.

The loose forward trio of James Venter, Phepsi Buthelezi and Sikhumbuzo Notshe remains in place, while the Springbok scrumhalf duo of Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse swap jerseys. In the final change, Marnus Potgieter returns to action in place of Aphiwe Dyantyi on the wing.

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Corne Rahl, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Jeandre (Lappies) Labuschagne, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Ethan Hooker.

Debuts aplenty as Lions prepare to face USA Perpignan

The Lions will open their 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup account against French outfit USA Perpignan this Sunday at the Stade Aime Giral.

The matchday 23 sees a series of exciting combinations as well as franchise debuts for locks Etienne Oosthuizen and Raynard Roets, winger Boldwin Hansen and new signing Erich Cronje. Also in line for international club debuts are front-rower Conraad van Vuuren, Izan Esterhuizen and scrumhalf Johan Mulder who toured with the side earlier this season.

Experienced campaigner Jaco Visagie wears the captain's armband for the 15:00 kick-off in a line-up that sees Nico Steyn combine with Jordan Hendrikse at nine and ten respectively.

Speaking to the media before the team's departure on Wednesday, scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys heaped praise on Perpignan's set-piece play but expressed his confidence in his side's ability to hold their own at the Stade Aimé Giral.

"Having played against French teams in this competition last season, we've experienced their set pieces especially when it comes to scrum time, said the Lions scrum guru.

"Looking at the Top 14 competition, it's quite interesting to see how they go about their set pieces and it's something they pride themselves in. Having a look at their packs, they are generally heavy packs, so we expect the same from our opponents on Sunday.

"We have a lot of confidence in the guys whom we have selected for the weekend. The nice thing is that we train against one another every day at training and the competition within our squad is unbelievable with guys pushing one another constantly so it will be interesting to see how we show up this Sunday against a competitive Perpignan side," he concluded.

USA Perpignan are currently placed 13th in their domestic French Top 14 competition.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Bodwin Hansen, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Ruhan Straeuli, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Raynard Roets, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Corne Fourie

Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Izan Esterhuizen, 20 Travis Gordon, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Rynhardt Jonker/Sibusiso Sangweni

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