Ethan Hooker News Today

The Sharks have the opportunity to right the wrongs of a stuttering season in the Challenge Cup final against Gloucester on Friday evening.

The men from Durban are the first South African team to make the final of a European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) competition by advancing to the Investec Challenge Cup final. And they could add to that milestone, by winning the tournament in a few weeks. 

The Bulls and Sharks are the only two South African sides playing in the quarterfinals of the European fixtures this weekend.

The Bulls and Sharks provided a ray of light in an indifferent weekend for South Africa’s five teams in the European playoffs.

The Munster-bound out-half left the field with an apparent shoulder injury as Ulster fell 22-12 to the Springbok-infused Sharks.

Richie Murphy’s men took South Africa apart after holding them at bay in the first half.

Richie Murphy’s side face the Junior Springboks in Cape Town on Sunday.

South Africa will face Ireland in the semifinals of the Under-20 Championship after victory over Argentina on Tuesday.

All four South African United Rugby Championship sides are in Europe this week — with some spending more than 50 hours in the air travelling north — to take on their international opposition.