Investec Champions Cup: South Africans who rocked in Round 1

Several South African players delivered standout performances during the opening round of the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup. Bulls winger Cheswill Jooste led the individual efforts with a hat-trick and 218 running meters in a 56–20 victory over Stade Français. Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also impressed, converting all seven tries and directing play in a dominant 49–12 win against the Bristol Bears in Cape Town.

Additional top performers included Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard, who scored 16 points with a perfect kicking display, and Stormers fullback Damian Willemse. Despite suffering a 31–14 defeat to La Rochelle shortly after the tragic passing of teammate Hyron Andrews, the Lions earned praise for their determined performance, highlighted by Bathobele Hlekani and Ruan Delport.