Stormers flanker Paul de Villiers has the joint most turnovers after the finished first block of this season’s Investec Champions Cup, with the opening fortnight of the competitors and the EPCR Problem Cup breaking data for viewership. De Villiers is amongst 5 nominations for Participant of the Month.
Bulls supporters could not but have an appreciation of the standing of the Investec Champions Cup, with simply 7300 attending the opener at Loftus in opposition to the 2024/25 champions Bordeaux, however elsewhere the match continues to command curiosity, on the grounds and thru tv, on-line and social media viewership.
The Stormers, having performed their first competitors ‘residence’ sport exterior of Cape City because of the unavailability of the DHL Stadium, nonetheless bought a crowd of 17 000 for his or her win in opposition to La Rochelle, whereas a lot tuned into the Sharks residence win in opposition to Saracens, even when terrible climate circumstances restricted floor attendance.
The Keo & Zels present, on their social media channels, mixed for a viewership of 1.2 million, while SA Rugby Journal revealed 130 articles on the match up to now three weeks, and 230 social media posts throughout their platforms, in addition to their WhatsApp Channel & the Keo & Zels WhatsApp Channel.
The EPCR reported that Broadcast audiences additionally surged, with peak TV viewership exceeding 2 million on France Télévisions for the RC Toulon v Tub Rugby conflict, reinforcing the competitions’ standing as must-watch sporting occasion.
Digital engagement additionally continued its upward trajectory yr on yr, demonstrated by 3.65 million whole digital engagements, up from 2.75 million on the identical stage final season, and three million YouTube spotlight views, a 25% enhance on final season.
The EPCR additionally launched a brand-new Investec Champions Cup present, produced by Brian O’Driscoll and Craig Doyle’s 3 Rock manufacturing firm and fronted by former French worldwide Ben Kayser, celebrating the cities, tradition and followers of the Investec Champions Cup – in addition to the world-class Take a look at match rugby in membership colors.
Bordeaux’s French Worldwide flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert has received Investec Participant of the Match in each Bordeaux’s wins, Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu joined the record of gamers with the second most strive assists in a single match (4), with Toulouse and France No 9 Antoine Dupont’s 5 setting the usual.
Toulouse’s Jack Willis, the Prime 14 and French rugby participant of the yr final season, has been imposing on this yr’s opening two rounds, and, within the 21-28 defeat to Glasgow, made 25 tackles. Willis is ineligible for England choice as a result of he performs his membership rugby in France.
Toulouse’s Thomas Ramos has additionally thrived, at flyhalf in Spherical 1 and fullback in Spherical 2.
Throughout 42 high-quality matches in Rounds 1 and a pair of of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Problem Cup, Europe and South Africa’s main golf equipment and gamers delivered compelling performances that set the tone for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
That distinctive normal of play is mirrored within the Investec Champions Cup Participant of the Month nominees, every of whom led by instance and performed a key function in guiding their groups to consecutive victories.
Adam Hastings, Glasgow Warriors. Investec Participant of the Match in opposition to Stade Toulousain throughout Glasgow’s unbelievable comeback in Spherical 2.
George Hendy, Northampton Saints. Scored 4 tries in 2 Rounds and was Investec Participant of the Match in opposition to Vodacom Bulls in Spherical 2.
Paul de Villiers, DHL Stormers. Investec Participant of the Match in opposition to Stade Rochelais in Spherical 2 and joint most turnovers up to now within the competitors.
Matthieu Jalibert, Union Bordeaux Bègles. Extra factors than some other participant (28) thanks to 3 tries, 5 conversions and a penalty objective in two Rounds. Was the Participant of the Match in each matches.
Sione Tuipulotu, Glasgow Warriors. Massively influential in Glasgow’s historic win in opposition to Stade Toulousain and one of many seasons’ prime carriers.
Simply six of the 24 groups are unbeaten within the opening fortnight.
In Pool 1, Franco Smith’s Glasgow are the one unbeaten crew, with two wins from two. The standard and combat inside the Pool is illustrated with with one league level separating second place Saracens (6) and fifth positioned Sharks, from KZN, who’ve 5 factors after the bonus-point residence win in opposition to Saracens.
There isn’t a unbeaten crew in Pool 2, with Tub toping the desk.
In Pool three, the Cape City based mostly Stormers are unbeaten and edge Leinster on the prime of the desk on factors differential. Each groups have 9 league factors.
Final season’s finalists, Bordeaux and Northampton Saints had been drawn in Pool 4, and the Saints are on prime on factors differential, with Bordeaux second and the unbeaten Bristol Bears third.
SPRINGBOKS STAND TALLEST FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
*Explaining the EPCR
European Skilled Membership Rugby (EPCR) is the organiser of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Problem Cup. EPCR’s mission is to create excellent rugby experiences for all key stakeholders, together with leagues, golf equipment, gamers, match officers, unions, followers, broadcast and business companions, communities and the media.
The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Problem Cup characteristic golf equipment from the Gallagher Premiership, TOP 14 and United Rugby Championship. 42 golf equipment from three leagues and eight unions compete every season to win membership rugby’s most elite titles. Broadcast to over 100 territories all over the world, final season EPCR’s tournaments welcomed 1.5 million followers into stadia and achieved a broadcast viewers of over 70 million viewers.
The EPCR Finals Weekend is a vacation spot rugby weekend held in a unique metropolis yearly.
On 22 and 23 Might 2026, the colourful Basque metropolis of Bilbao will welcome the EPCR Problem Cup Last and Investec Champions Cup Last to the beautiful San Mamés Stadium, the place 60% of tickets for the Bilbao Finals already bought,
Established in 2014 with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, EPCR has the next members: Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), Irish Rugby Soccer Union (IRFU), Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL), PRO Rugby Championship DAC (URC), Rugby Soccer Union (RFU), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
The Board of EPCR has the next members: Dominic McKay (Chairman), Jacques Raynaud (EPCR CEO), Martin Anayi (URC), Emmanuel Eschalier (LNR), Simon Massie-Taylor (PRL), Mark McCafferty (impartial director), Arnaud Nourry (impartial director), Jérémie Lecha (FFR) and Kevin Potts (IRFU).
EPCR’s revenues are distributed on the idea of an equal three-way division to Premiership Rugby golf equipment, URC golf equipment and LNR golf equipment.
EPCR’s tournaments are run based on World Rugby’s Legal guidelines of the Sport, and to World Rugby Laws.
LinkedIn web page: www.linkedin.com/firm/epcrugby
EPCR contact: [email protected]
