Faf de Klerk is bringing some Springbok star power to France, but he'll find a few familiar South African faces waiting on the other side.

The World Cup-winning scrum-half starts for the Toyota Cheetahs on Sunday, Oct. 18, when they visit Aviron Bayonnais at Stade Jean-Dauger for their 2026-27 EPCR Challenge Cup opener. Bayonne counters with South African fly-half Rob du Preez, winger Madosh Tambwe and former Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies among the replacements.

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The Cheetahs, coached by former Springbok Frans Steyn, have named Carl Els for his club debut at No. 8, with Neels Volschenk captaining the visitors. Bayonne looks to bounce back from a 45-34 Top 14 defeat to Toulouse, with Giovanni Habel-Kuffner leading the French side.

Here are the confirmed lineups, kickoff details and how to watch.

Bayonne vs. Cheetahs Kickoff Time

• Date: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026

• Kickoff: 8 a.m. ET

• Venue: Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne, France

• Competition: EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1

• Pool: 1

How To Watch Bayonne vs. Cheetahs

Aviron Bayonnais vs. Toyota Cheetahs will stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 a.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 18. Fans can watch live or on demand with a FloRugby subscription.

Aviron Bayonnais Starting Lineup vs. Toyota Cheetahs

1. Ignacio Calles

2. Facundo Bosch

3. Luke Tagi

4. Manus van Leeuwen

5. Brian Alainu'uese

6. Mahno Dealle Facquez

7. Baptiste Heguy

8. Giovanni Habel-Kuffner (c)

9. Baptiste Tilloles

10. Rob du Preez

11. Viliame Tutuvuli

12. Federico Mori

13. Guillaume Martocq

14. Madosh Tambwe

15. Yohan Orabe

Bayonne Replacements

16. Lucas Martin

17. Swan Cormenier

18. Lasha Macharashvili

19. Lucas Paulos

20. Hugo Leclerq

21. Herschel Jantjies

22. Bastien Rasal

23. Tom Spring

Toyota Cheetahs Starting Lineup vs. Bayonne

1. Matome Manyama

2. Louis van der Westhuizen

3. Francisco dos Reis

4. Carl Wegner

5. Victor Sekekete

6. Neels Volschenk (c)

7. Simon Miller

8. Carl Els

9. Faf de Klerk

10. Tiaan Swanepoel

11. Prince Nkabinde

12. Zander du Plessis

13. CJ Coetzee

14. Michael Annies

15. Henry Immelman

Cheetahs Replacements

16. Juandre Schoeman

17. Tebogo Nkosi

18. Ben Pitout

19. Aidon Davis

20. Siya Ningiza

21. Erich Visser

22. Cohen Jasper

23. Marco Jansen van Vuren

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