Northampton Saints No 8 Juarno Augustus and the Suntory Sungoliath’s Cheslin Kolbe were the standout South Africans in action on foreign shores at the weekend.
Champions Cup:
Juarno Augustus packed a punch as Northampton Saints secured their spot in the Champions Cup final after a 37-34 win against Springbok lock RG Snyman’s Leinster in Dublin.
FIRST-HALF HAT-TRICK for Tommy Freeman 🔥
And @SaintsRugby have a 27-15 lead at the break 👀
Follow the #InvestecChampionsCup SF live ➡️https://t.co/e9hzNa7SI1 pic.twitter.com/3xZefd7ZKY
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 3, 2025
EPCR Challenge Cup:
Johann van Graan’s Bath, backed up by Bok prop Thomas du Toit and former Stormers scrumhalf Louis Schreuder, earned a place in the Challenge Cup final after a 39-24 victory against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital. Former Cheetah’s prop Boan Venter featured off the bench for the hosts.
The try that helped seal @BathRugby‘s place in the final 🙌
Instant #ChallengeCupRugby highlights are now live on YouTube 🎥
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) May 3, 2025
Arno Botha started at No 8 for Lyon in their 29-15 win over French rivals Racing 92 at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland. Former Stormers prop Lee-Marvin Mazibuko scrummed down at tighthead for Racing.
Japan League One:
Cheslin Kolbe starred with boot and ball, scoring 28 points, including two tries as Suntory Sungoliath earned a 43-34 win over the Black Rams.
Bok flanker Kwagga Smith captained the Shizuoka Blue Revs in their 62-52 win against the Urayasu D-Rocks. Sylvian Mahuza started on the wing for the Blue Revs, while former Lions flyhalf Sanele Mohamba played off the bench. Lourens Erasmus packed down at lock for D-Rocks.
Nine South Africans matched up in a dramatic 29-29 draw between the Kubota Spears and the Saitama Wild Knights. Bok hooker Malcom Marx started for the Spears, alongside David Bulbring, Tyler Paul and Rikus Pretorius. Ruan Botha and Merwe Olivier featured off the Bench. Springbok duo Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende ran out for the Knights, while former Sharks lock Ockie Barnard came off the bench.
Walt Steenkamp and Khuta Mchunu started in the pack for the Dynaboars in a 45-28 reverse to Brave Lupus. Former Cheetahs flanker Friedle Olivier made an appearance for Dynaboars as a replacement.
Springbok lock Franco Mostert dotted down for Honda Heat in their 38-30 loss to former Stormers lock Adre Smith’s Toyota Verblitz. Matthys Basson powered the Heat scrum, while Jan-Hendrik Swanepoel featured off the bench.
Jessie Kriel crossed the whitewash in a 47-29 defeat for Canon Eagles against Kobe Steel in round 17. Kriel started in midfield, while lock Jannes Labuschagne and replacement speedster Brendan Owen ran out for the Eagles.
Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images
