Challenge Cup - teams and predictions
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Lions will have to put in another incredible performance in the final pool-stage match of the European Challenge Cup, while the Cheetahs will be out to end on a high note after being knocked out of the tournament.
The Lions will meet Perpignan on Saturday evening, and the Cheetahs will wrap up the weekend’s action against Racing 92 on Sunday. Both matches are set to be played in France.
The Lions will be oozing with confidence and will be determined to build on their morale-boosting 42-33 victory against Lyon when they take on Perpignan at Stade Aimé Giral.
A victory will mean that the Gauteng side holds onto their spot in the top four of the standings and ensures that they qualify for the play-offs.
Perpignan are currently one spot above them on the table on points’ difference and find themselves in a similar situation to the Lions in their quest to remain in the top four, as a victory for the Dragons against Newcastle or a bonus-point win for Lyon against Benetton could jeopardise the losing team’s hopes of qualifying.
“Coming off the weekend win, in review, I still felt we were sloppy at times – turning the ball over too much. However, to secure a win at home and keep us alive in the competition was the obvious goal of the weekend,” Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen stated.
“That means we’ve got an opportunity this weekend to stay alive. I think the result will be really important. You don’t want to leave it up to other teams and points difference and all that.”
#TeamAnnouncement: @LionsRugbyCo to rely on pace and power in France https://t.co/zWj8YuBvjP
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) January 16, 2026
With four wins in eight games to their name in the URC to Perpignan’s two out of 14 in the Top 14, and the Lions coming fresh off a win, they will back themselves to register a valuable victory. However, they will be well aware that the Frenchmen have won their last three home games across both competitions, which will inspire them to deliver another quality performance in front of their home crowd.
“We know it’s going to be tough. Weather-wise, we know it’s going to be two different ways of play,” Van Rooyen admitted.
“We’re going to face a really big, physical Perpignan team, who thrive on momentum and thrive on going forward.”
#TeamAnnouncement: @CheetahsRugby target strong finish against @racing92 https://t.co/TBlaCIQGUl
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) January 16, 2026
Meanwhile, the Cheetahs and Racing 92 will be hunting their first and only win in the competition this season when they battle it out at the La Défense Arena in Paris, which will spice up the match, even though both teams will be playing purely for pride.
However, the Free Staters will have to deliver a top-drawer performance to topple the hosts, who may be languishing at the bottom end of the Top 14 log, but boast seven wins in 14 matches and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record in Paris this season.
This will make a victory even sweeter for the Cheetahs after last weekend’s disappointment when their match against Ulster in the Netherlands was cancelled. However, they will have to be in top form on attack and defence.
Cheetahs captain Jackie van der Westhuizen stated his team is raring to go after a month of not playing.
“The guys are really excited to play some rugby. It’s been a month now, I think, since we didn’t play any rugby.
“You can see the excitement in the training sessions, and the weather is much better this side, so we could actually have proper training sessions this week. You can see the guys are hungry to play some good-quality Cheetahs rugby.
“I’m really excited for the weekend, and I hope we can pitch a good game.”
Having played at Racing 92, Cheetahs head coach Frans Steyn hopes his team will be extra motivated to deliver some great performances.
“We didn’t have proper training sessions last week.
“I know Racing – when they pitch up on the day, it will be difficult. But I’ve got utmost confidence in our guys that we’ll pitch up and do something special on the weekend.”
Steyn has made 59 appearances for the Top 14 side and can’t wait to make a return to his old stomping ground.
“We had a few good players – Andrew Mertens, Johnny Leo’o, Sireli Bobo and Sebastian Chabal – we had a lot of fun.
“The games were good, but the people were the big thing at Racing. The people who worked at Racing – it was a very special place for me. I always have time for Racing.”
Saturday, January 17
Ulster v Stade Francais Paris
(Affidea Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT; 14.00 France time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Ulster by five points
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Bryn Ward, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Harry Sheridan, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Matt Dalton, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite
Stade Français Paris: 15 Mathis Ibo, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 Tani Vili, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Paul Abadie, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 6 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 5 Jacques Botha, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Giorgi Melikidze, 2 Alvaro Garcia, 1 Jack Iscaro.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Peyresblanques, 17 Yanis Lux, 18 Sergo Abramishvili, 19 Setareki Turagacoke, 20 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 21 Thibaut Motassi, 22 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 23 Samuel Ezeala
Referee: Adam Leal (England)
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales (England) & Wayne Falla (England)
TMO: Daniel Jones (England)
Black Lion v Zebre Parma
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 17.00; 13.00 GMT; 14.00 Italy time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Zebre by seven points
Teams:
Black Lion: 15 Shalva Aptsiauri, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demi Tapladze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 5 Demuri Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili, 3 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 2 Irakli Kvatdza, 1 Vasi Kakovin.
Replacements: 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Nika Khatiashvili, 18 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 19 Guram Ganiashvili, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Giorgi Spenderashvili, 22 Zaur Lutidze, 23 Romani Makhatadze
Zebre Parma: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Giulio Bertaccini, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Davide Odiase, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Bautista Stavile, 5 Leonardo Krumov (captain), 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 1 Juan-Manuel Pitinari.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Franco Carrera, 20 Alessandro Ortombina, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Martin Roger Farias, 23 Davide Ruggeri
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
Assistant referees: Andrei Gheorghe (Rome) & Florin Bonea (Rome)
TMO: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylett (France)
USAP v Lions
(Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT; 19.30 SA time)
Prediction
Rugby365: Lions by five points
Teams:
USAP: 15 Theo Forner, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Diego Mascarenc, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Freddy Duguivalu, 10 Antoine Aucagne, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 6 Mahamadou Diaby, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 4 Bastien Chinarro, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Giorgi Tetrashvili.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Giorgi Beria, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Adrien Warion, 20 Mathieu Tanguy, 21 Matteo le Corvec, 22 James Hall, 23 Hugo Reus
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Henco van Wyk, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Reinhard Nothnager, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Eddie Davids
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Mahashe, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Bronson Mills
Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Danilo Parisi (Italy) & Luigi Parcianello (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Connacht v US Montauban
(Dexcom Stadium, Gaillimh – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 21.00 France time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Connacht by 15 points
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Harry West, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Paul Boyle, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Sean Walsh
US Montauban: 15 Jean Seux, 14 Gade Asaeli, 13 Simon Renda, 12 Maxime Mathy, 11 Paul Vallee, 10 Jerome Bosviel, 9 Hugo Zabalza, 8 Nafi Ma’afu, 7 Tjuee Uanivi, 6 Fred Quercy, 5 Lewis Bean, 4 Clement Bitz, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Maixent da Costa, 1 Lucas Seyrolle
Replacements: 16 Ru-Hann Greyling, 17 Leo Aouf, 18 Noa Kanika, 19 Karl Wilkins, 20 Mael Castel, 21 Thomas Fortunel, 22 Gibson Popoali’i, 23 Facundo Pomponio
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales) & Gareth Newman (Wales)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
Ospreys v Montpellier
(Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 21.00 France time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Montpellier by five points
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Phil Cokanasiga, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Jack Walsh (captain), 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Gwilym Evans, 6 Marco de Witt, 5 James Fender, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Lewis Lloyd, 1 Steff Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Cameron Jones, 18 Kian Hire, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Morgan Morse, 22 Kieran Hardy, 23 Iestyn Hopkins
Montpellier: 15 Donovan Taofifenua, 14 Jules Ducros, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Auguste Cadot, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Stuart Hogg, 9 Alexis Bernadet, 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Alex Masibaka, 6 Alex Becognee, 5 Matthieu Uhila, 4 Marco Tauleigne, 3 Christopher Tolofua, 2 Jordan Uelese (captain), 1 Valentin Welsh
Replacements: 16 Lyam Akrab, 17 Baptiste Erdocio, 18 Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 19 Tyler DuGuid, 20 Solomon Shand, 21 Tom Baraer, 22 Leo Coly, 23 Miracle Tangata
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (Italy) & Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Sunday, January 18:
Exeter Chiefs v Cardiff
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Exeter by five points
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Olly Woodburn, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Haydon-Wood, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Steve Varney, 8 Kane James, 7 Ethan Roots, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Rus Tuima, 20 Lewis Pearson, 21 Richard Capstick, 22 Charlie Chapman, 23 Ben Hammersley
Cardiff: 15 Jacob Beetham, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Josh McNally (captain), 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Danny Southworth
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 George Nott, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Tom Cottle, 22 Ieuan Davies, 23 Cam Winnett
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa) & Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Lyon v Benetton
(Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT; 14.00 Italy time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Benetton by six points
Teams:
Lyon: 15 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 14 Arthur Mathiron, 13 Alfred Parisien, 12 Theo Millet, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Baptiste Couilloud (captain), 8 Beka Shvangiradze, 7 Liam Allen, 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Janse Roux, 4 Theo William, 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Guillaume Marchand, 1 Jérôme Rey
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Hamza Kaabeche, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Mickael Guillard, 20 Marvin Okuya, 21 Charlie Cassang, 22 Martin Meliande, 23 Iosefo Balewairiki
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren (captain), 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Riccardo Favretto, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 Giulio Marini, 21 Michele Lamaro, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Leonardo Marin
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Hamish Grant (England) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Dean Richards (England)
Racing 92 v Cheetahs
(Paris La Defense Arena, Paris – Kick-off 18.30; 17.30 GMT; 19.30 SA Time)
Predictions
Rugby365: Racing 92 by 10 points
Teams:
Racing 92: 15 Sam James, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Vladi Ashvetia, 11 Nolann Donguy, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Kleo Labarbe, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Noa Zinzen, 6 Auguste Albuisson, 5 Romain Taofifenua (captain), 4 Thomas Lainault, 3 Lehopoame Leota, 2 Elia Masi, 1 Edouard Jabea Njocke
Replacements: 16 Janick Tarrit, 17 Lino Julien, 18 Herman Coetzee, 19 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 20 Jonny Hill, 21 Matis Julien, 22 Antoine Latrasse, 23 Noham Valeu
Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Marco Janse van Vuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Curtley Thomas, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Dux Manyama
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Arno van der Merwe, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Michael Annies
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales) & Gareth Newman (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
