RUGBY WRAP: Sharks lose out on Champions Cup qualification, Prem semis all set and more!

URC R18: Sharks capitulate at the Tank, Bulls pump Leinster

Despite leading 22-3 at one stage, the Sharks conspired to blow their 19-point lead against Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park and surrender a place in the Champions Cup for next season. The final 22-all scoreline ensured the Durbanites finished the URC round robin stages in eighth, and with Welsh Shield winners Cardiff ending 10^th overall, the result means the Sharks will instead participate in the second-tier Challenge Cup in their next campaign.

Elsewhere, the Bulls obliterated previously unbeaten Leinster 62-7 at Loftus, the Stormers cruised past Benetton 38-22 in the Cape, Ulster beat Edinburgh 28-14 in Belfast, the Lions overturned Zebre 50-35 in Joburg, Dragons pushed past Scarlets 31-14 at Rodney Parade, Cardiff won 38-14 at Ospreys and Glasgow battled past Connacht 29-27 at the Scotstoun.

The quarterfinals, which commence on the weekend of 6 May, will see Glasgow host Munster, the Stormers clash with the Bulls in Cape Town, Ulster tackle Connacht at the Kingspan and the Sharks travel to Dublin to face Leinster.

Currie Cup R9: Pumas open up daylight at the summit

The Pumas’ 25-24 win over Western Province in Mbombela on Friday, coupled with the Free State Cheetahs’ home loss to the Sharks on the same day, has seen Jimmy Stonehouse’s men open up a slim three-point lead at the top of the Currie Cup standings at the halfway point of the competition.

In the weekend’s other two results, the Blue Bulls beat trans-Jukskei rivals the Golden Lions 30-19 at Loftus on Saturday and the Griquas beat the Griffons 42-27 in Kimberley on Sunday.

Prem R19: Semi-finals confirmed after penultimate round

Following the weekend’s Premiership results, it’s been confirmed that Saracens (first) and Sale Sharks (second) will host this season’s semi-finals and will face either Tigers (third) or Saints (fourth) with the two sides currently locked on 58-points. Northampton have a bye this week, meaning Leicester will remain third and travel to Sale in the last four so long as they avoid a heavy defeat to Harlequins.

On Friday, Northampton thumped Newcastle 66-6 at Kingston Park while Saturday saw Exeter pip Bristol 22-21 at Sandy Park, Bath upset Quins 45-35 at The Stoop and Sale down Gloucester 25-22 at the Kingsholm. On Sunday, Saracens ended fifth-placed London Irish’s playoff aspirations in a 45-21 victory at the StoneX.

Top 14 R23: Stade knock over table-toppers, La Rochelle close in

Stade Francais recorded an all-important 19-10 home win over Toulouse on Saturday to maintain the pressure on the European heavyweights with just three rounds to go. Ugo Mola’s side are now just a single point above La Rochelle, who beat Clermont 26-13 at the Marcel Deflandre on the same day.

Elsewhere, hosts Castres saw off Toulon 31-28, Bayonne pipped defending champs Montpellier 33-30 at the Jean-Dauger, 13^th-placed Perpignan caused a major upset in a 30-21 home defeat of seventh-placed Racing 92, Brive (14^th) beat Pau 22-17 at the Amédée-Domenech and Bordeaux eased past Lyon 23-9 at the Chaban-Delmas.

SR Pacific R8: Chiefs maintain winning ways

Chiefs won their eighth game in succession in a 50-17 defeat of Fijian Drua at FMG Stadium, the Crusaders beat the Rebels 43-27 in Melbourne, the Blues sauntered to a 55-21 win against the Waratahs in Sydney and the Force bagged their third win in a 30-17 home win over the Highlanders.