{"id":6342,"date":"2024-05-03T22:40:38","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T22:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=6342"},"modified":"2024-05-03T22:40:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T22:40:38","slug":"sharks-hunt-historic-final-berth-in-european-professional-club-rugby-epcr-challenge-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=6342","title":{"rendered":"Sharks hunt historic final berth in European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) Challenge Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 58 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

The Hollywoodbets Sharks will have a golden opportunity to make history by becoming the first South African franchise to advance to the EPCR Challenge Cup final when they face Clermont Auvergne in a blockbuster semi-final at the Twickenham Stoop in London on Saturday.<\/p>\n

With their Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoff hopes already dashed following a disappointing start to the season, this will mark a significant occasion for the KwaZulu-Natalians to earn some redemption in a season of mixed fortunes.<\/p>\n

Given the close margins between the teams this season it is expected to be a humdinger.<\/p>\n

Both sides suffered only one defeat in the competition to date, while Clermont hold a narrow one-point lead over the Hollywoodbets Sharks on points\u2019 difference in their five matches. Adding to this, both sides come off morale-boosting victories last weekend in the Vodacom URC and French Top 14.<\/p>\n

While Clermont will enter the match with confidence after registering a convincing 41-18 victory at home against Stade Francais in the Top 14, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will draw inspiration from their 32-27 victory against the Scarlets in Llanelli in the Vodacom URC \u2013 not only because of the fighting spirit they showed to hold on for the victory in a tense finish to the match, but also given the fact that it was an away game.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the teams find themselves in a similarly precarious position this season with disappointing performances early in the season, with the Durbanites having won four of their 15 matches in the Vodacom URC, while Clermont\u2019s track record shows nine wins in 22 outings in the Top 14, making this a vital clash for both teams.<\/p>\n

The match kicks off at 13h30 on Saturday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The second semi-final, between Gloucester and Benetton, kicks off at 16h00.<\/p>\n

EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final \u2013 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Clermont Auvergne<\/strong><\/p>\n

Date: Saturday, 4 May<\/p>\n

Venue: Twickenham Stoop, London<\/p>\n

SA Time: 13h30<\/p>\n

Referee: Luke Pearce<\/p>\n

TV: SuperSport<\/p>\n

Issued by SA Rugby Communications<\/strong><\/p>\n

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby.<\/p>\n

Media Resources:
\nInvestec Champions Cup:<\/strong>
Latest News<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3WlN2Az<\/a>
Fixtures&Results<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3UL5KjC<\/a>
Standings<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3UIcu1T<\/a>
Digital Tournament Guide<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4boGoxQ<\/a>
Official Website<\/strong>:\u00a0www.EPCRugby.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

EPCR Challenge Cup:<\/strong>
Latest News<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3WlN2Az<\/a>
Fixtures&Results<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3JJks4H<\/a>
Standings<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3UtNfii<\/a>
Official Website<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3wbwLUe<\/a><\/p>\n

Media managers\u2019 contacts:
\nTeam: <\/strong>Vodacom Bulls
Media Manager:<\/strong>\u00a0Lunga Kupiso
E-mail address:<\/strong>\u00a0lunga.k@bluebull.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Team: <\/strong>DHL Stormers
Media Manager:\u00a0<\/strong>Michael de Vries
E-mail address:\u00a0<\/strong>mdevries@wprugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Team:\u00a0<\/strong>Emirates Lions
Media Manager:\u00a0<\/strong>Nyaniso Sam
E-mail address:\u00a0<\/strong>nyaniso@ellispark.co.za<\/p>\n

Team:\u00a0<\/strong>Hollywoodbets Sharks
Media Manager:\u00a0<\/strong>Novashni Chetty
E-mail address:\u00a0<\/strong>novashni@thesharks.co.za<\/p>\n

Team:\u00a0<\/strong>Toyota Cheetahs
Media Manager:\u00a0<\/strong>Ronel Pienaar
E-mail address:\u00a0<\/strong>ronel@fsrugby.co.za<\/p>\n

Team:\u00a0<\/strong>EPCR: Director of Comms&PR
Media Manager:\u00a0<\/strong>Anna Young
E-mail address:\u00a0<\/strong>anna.young@epcrugby.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Team:\u00a0<\/strong>EPCR: Communications Manager
Media Manager:\u00a0<\/strong>Mark Jones
E-mail address:\u00a0<\/strong>mark.jones@epcrugby.com<\/a><\/p>\n

SA Rugby on social media:<\/strong>
\n@Springboks (Facebook:\u00a0https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/44tfTVJ<\/a> and Twitter: https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4dr3KEu<\/a>) | @bokrugby<\/a> (Instagram)<\/p>\n

For further information, please contact:<\/strong>
\nAndy Colquhoun
\nGM: Communications and Commercial
\n+27 (0) 21 928 7010
\n+27 (0) 82 926 0789
andyc@sarugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

De Jongh Borchardt
\nCommunications Manager
\n+27 (0) 21 928 7021
\n+27 (0) 82 999 9979
dejonghb@sarugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Rayaan Adriaanse
\nJunior Rugby Media Manager
\n+27 (0) 21 928 7013
\n+27 (0) 82 999 0022
rayaan@sarugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Sindiswa Ximba
\nMedia Operations Coordinator
\n+27 (0) 21 928 7011
\n+27 (0) 60 504 1069
sindiswa.ximba@sarugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Zeena Isaacs
\nSpringbok Media Manager
\n+27 (0) 21 928 7020
\n+27 (0) 82 357 3112
ZeenaI@sarugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

JJ Harmse
\nSevens and Women\u2019s Rugby Media Manager
\n+27 (0) 21 928 7014
\n+27 (0) 71 480 4570
jjharmse@sarugby.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us on:<\/strong>
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SA teams\u2019 digital platforms:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Investec Champions Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vodacom Bulls:
\nWeb: <\/strong>BullsRugby.co.za<\/a>
FB:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4dnosp0<\/a>
X: <\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3y1yf3Z<\/a>
IG:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3QpEPY3<\/a><\/p>\n

DHL Stormers:
\nWeb: <\/strong>TheStormers.co.za<\/a>
FB:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3Usi5rD<\/a>
X:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3Qv6KWL<\/a>
IG:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4b1LdgE<\/a><\/p>\n

EPCR Challenge Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emirates Lions:
\nWeb: <\/strong>LionsRugby.co.za<\/a>
FB:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4dlE0cJ<\/a>
X:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4dsWYOT<\/a>
IG:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/44sIhqT<\/a><\/p>\n

Hollywoodbets Sharks:<\/strong>
Web: <\/strong>SharksRugby.co.za<\/a>
FB:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3UHEkeK<\/a>
X:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3UL85Lq<\/a>
IG:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3Wmrxj7<\/a><\/p>\n

Toyota Cheetahs:
\nWeb: <\/strong>FSCheetahs.co.za<\/a>
FB:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3QtT3Yf<\/a>
X:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3QvsGkm<\/a>
IG:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/4a7ccWT<\/a><\/p>

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The Hollywoodbets Sharks will have a golden opportunity to make history by becoming the first South African franchise to advance to the EPCR Challenge Cup final when they face Clermont… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}