Champions, Challenge Cup team news

The Europe-based Champions Cup and second-tier Challenge Cup competitions get under way again this weekend, with a full round of fixtures.

In the top-tier Champions Cup, the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers will be in action Saturday, while in the Challenge Cup, the Lions and Cheetahs will be in action on Sunday.

Here is all the team news:

Champions Cup

Bulls

The Pretoria side take on English team, Saracens, in London at 7.30pm Saturday. Hooker Johan Grobbelaar will captain the team that includes eight Springboks in the starting team and a further three on the bench.

Bulls team: Willie le Roux, Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Devon Williams, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Wiese, Marco van Staden, JF van Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Johan Grobbelaar (capt), Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Marcell Coetzee, Keagan Johannes, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Harold Vorster

Sharks

John Plumtree has gone all out with his selection, picking all of his available Springbok players for their match against English side Exeter Chiefs, with kick-off at 3pm.

Eben Etzebeth returns to captain the team after sitting out last week, while Siya Kolisi continues in his role at No 8.

Sharks team: Aphelele Fassi, Eduan Keyter, Ethan Hooker, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi, Vincent Tshituka, James Venter, Emile van Heerden, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Bench: Dylan Richardson, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Masuku, Francois Venter

Stormers

Prop Neethling Fouche will lead the side in the absence of the injured Dan du Plessis against French giants Toulon, in a match to be played in Gqeberha, because of the Cape Town Sevens taking place at the Cape Town Stadium this weekend.

Jean-Luc du Plessis replaces his cousin at No 12, while Willie Engelbrecht and Joseph Dweba will earn their 5oth Stormers caps. Seabelo Senatla will make his long-awaited return to action following a car crash in May last year, which threatened to end his playing career.

Stormers team: Warrick Gelant, Suileman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Paul de Wet, Willie Engelbrecht, Ben-Jason Dixon, Keke Morabe, Ruben van Heerden, JD Schickerling, Neethling Fouche (capt), Joseph Dweba, Ali Vermaak. Bench: Andre-Hugo Venter, Leon Lyons, Sazi Sandi, Adre Smith, Marcel Theunissen, Louw Nel, Herschel Jantjies, Seabelo Senatla

Challenge Cup

Lions

Nico Steyn will lead a very changed team for their match against Ospreys in Wales, on Sunday at 5.15pm. There are changes across the team, with Sam Francis at flyhalf, Tapiwa Mafura at fullback, WJ Steenkamp at eighthman and Franco Marais at hooker.

Lions team: Tapiwa Mafura, Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Rabz Maxwane, Sam Francis, Nico Steyn (capt), WJ Steenkamp, Isan Esterhuizen, JC Pretorius, Darrien Landsberg, Etienne Oosthuizen, Conraad van Vuuren, Franco Marais, Morgan Naude. Bench: Jaco Visagie, SJ Kotze, RF Schoeman, Ruan Delport, Enzo du Plessis, Ruhan Straeuli, Sanele Nohamba, Marius Louw

Cheetahs

The Bloemfontein-based side take on Perpignan at 3pm in Amsterdam on Sunday, at what is supposed to be their home ground. Victor Sekekete will lead the side which includes former USA scrumhalf Ruben de Haas as well as experienced former Super Rugby players such as Carl Wegner, Schalk Ferreira and Hencus van Wyk.

Oupa Mohoje, a former captain and the only Bok in the side, will play off the bench.

Cheetahs team: Michael Annies, Munier Hartzenberg, Carel-Jan Coetzee, Ali Mgijima, Prince Nkabinde, Ethan Wentzel, Ruben de Haas, Jeandré Rudolph, Friedle Olivier, Gideon van der Merwe, Victor Sekekete (capt), Carl Wegner, Aranos Coetzee, Louis van der Westhuizen, Schalk Ferreira. Bench: Vernon Paulo, Hencus van Wyk, Robert Hunt, Pierre-Raymond Uys, Oupa Mohoje, Daniel Maartens, Rewan Kruger, George Lourens