Challenge Cup 2025/26 · Round of 16
Connacht
Sharks
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Championship Standings
There are no Challenge Cup pool standings at this stage — this is a straight knockout. For context, Connacht sit 9th in the URC on 39 points (W7 L7), while the Sharks are 10th on 33 points (W6 L7 D1). Both qualified for the Challenge Cup knockouts via their European pool results.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Glasgow Warriors | 14 | 11 | 3 | +192 | 55 |
| 2 |  Stormers | 14 | 11 | 3 | +139 | 51 |
| 3 |  Ulster | 14 | 9 | 5 | +113 | 47 |
| 4 |  Leinster | 14 | 9 | 5 | +62 | 46 |
| 5 |  Lions | 14 | 8 | 5 | +36 | 43 |
| 6 |  Cardiff | 14 | 8 | 6 | −9 | 41 |
| 7 |  Munster | 14 | 8 | 6 | −25 | 41 |
| 8 |  Bulls | 14 | 8 | 6 | +57 | 40 |
| 9 | Connacht | 14 | 7 | 7 | +10 | 39 |
| 10 | Sharks | 14 | 6 | 7 | −26 | 33 |
| 11 |  Ospreys | 14 | 5 | 7 | −32 | 30 |
| 12 |  Benetton | 14 | 5 | 7 | −74 | 28 |
| 13 |  Edinburgh | 14 | 4 | 10 | −71 | 23 |
| 14 |  Scarlets | 14 | 4 | 9 | −86 | 21 |
| 15 |  Dragons | 14 | 2 | 9 | −83 | 21 |
| 16 |  Zebre Parma | 14 | 2 | 12 | −203 | 12 |
Connacht
W5, L1Connacht are on a five-match winning streak in the URC — their best run of the season. They beat league leaders Glasgow 15–10 at the Sportsgrounds, hammered Scarlets 31–14, and won away at Ulster 26–19. The only blemish in their last six was a home loss to Leinster, which is hardly a disgrace. Their defence has tightened significantly — conceding just 14 points per game across the last four wins.
Sharks
W4, L2The Sharks are a side of extremes. They dismantled Munster 45–0 at Kings Park and beat the Stormers home and away, but were hammered 41–12 by the Bulls at Loftus and lost the Jukskei derby 34–22 to the Lions. Their home form in Durban has been electric — the concern is on the road, where they've been picked apart by physical South African packs. Travelling to Galway in early April presents a very different challenge.
Head-to-Head Record
4 – 0 – 1
Connacht wins · Draws · Sharks wins (last 5 meetings)
Connacht (4)Connacht have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning four of five URC meetings since 2022. Crucially, both home meetings in Galway have been emphatic Connacht victories — 44–17 in November 2025 and 36–30 in September 2024. The Sharks' sole win came in Durban in April 2022 (41–21), but they have not won on Irish soil against Connacht.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | URC | Connacht 44–17 Sharks |
| Sep 2024 | URC | Connacht 36–30 Sharks |
| Nov 2023 | URC | Sharks 12–13 Connacht |
| Jan 2023 | URC | Connacht 24–12 Sharks |
| Apr 2022 | URC | Sharks 41–21 Connacht |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Connacht 28 – Sharks 22. Connacht have won the last three meetings, including two in Galway by an average margin of 17 points.
Extended Form
Connacht9W, 5L
URC: W v Ospreys (21–14), W v Ulster away (26–19), W v Scarlets (31–14), W v Glasgow (15–10), W v Zebre away (31–15), L v Leinster (23–34), L v Montpellier away (33–31 CC), W v Montauban (75–14 CC), L v Leinster away (52–17), L v Ulster (24–29), L v Dragons away (48–28), W v Black Lion (52–0 CC), W v Sharks (44–17), W v Benetton (26–15).
Connacht's losses have come against elite opposition — Leinster twice, Ulster, and an away trip to Montpellier. At the Dexcom Stadium they are a genuine handful, with wins over Glasgow, Sharks (44–17), and a 75–14 demolition of Montauban in the Challenge Cup pools. Their European home record this season is perfect.
Sharks8W, 7L, 1D
URC: W v Cardiff (21–15), W v Munster (45–0), L v Bulls away (41–12), L v Lions away (34–22), W v Stormers (36–24), W v Stormers away (30–19), W v Clermont (50–12 ERCC), L v Sale away (26–10 ERCC), L v Lions (22–23), W v Bulls (21–12), W v Saracens (28–23 ERCC), L v Toulouse away (56–19 ERCC), L v Connacht (44–17), W v Scarlets (29–19), L v Ulster (26–34), L v Leinster away (31–5).
The Sharks are devastating at Kings Park — the 45–0 hammering of Munster was a statement — but their away record tells a different story. Lost at Loftus (41–12), Toulouse (56–19), Leinster (31–5), and Sale (26–10). When they travel, especially to Europe, they are vulnerable. The 44–17 thumping at the Sportsgrounds in November will weigh heavily.
Connacht XV
Lineups have not yet been announced for this fixture. Connacht are expected to be near full strength with Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen available. Cian Prendergast will captain from the backrow. Jack Carty or Josh Ioane will likely start at fly-half given Connacht's current form.
Sharks XV
Lineups have not yet been announced. The Sharks boast a formidable Springbok contingent — Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché, Bongi Mbonambi, and Aphelele Fassi could all feature. Jordan Hendrikse at fly-half and brother Jaden at scrum-half give them a quality halfback pairing. The question is how many frontline Springboks John Plumtree selects for a midweek trip to Galway.
Key Matchups
On paper, the Sharks' Springbok-laden squad outguns Connacht in most areas — particularly at set piece and in the back three. The Nché/Mbonambi/Koch front row and Etzebeth in the second row are world-class, and the Fassi/Mapimpi/van der Merwe back three is lethal in open play. But Connacht's advantage lies in cohesion, home comfort, and familiarity with the tight confines of Galway. Bundee Aki in the midfield is the great equaliser — his physicality and defensive reads can nullify the Sharks' centre channel. The decisive matchup is likely at halfback: if Carty can control territory and keep the Sharks pinned in their own half, Connacht's pack can compete physically. If the Sharks get quick ball and width, their backline firepower will be hard to contain.
Match Forecast
Connacht's five-match winning streak, dominant home H2H record (44–17 and 36–30 in Galway), and the Sharks' wretched European away form all point to a home win. The Dexcom Stadium is a cauldron on European nights — tight, loud, and unforgiving for visiting sides who rely on width and space. Connacht have conceded just 14 points per game across their last four URC wins, and their pack has found a genuine edge at home, beating Glasgow's vaunted forward pack 15–10 in February.
The caveat is obvious: the Sharks' Springbok contingent can win any game on talent alone. If Etzebeth and Kolisi dominate the collision area and Jordan Hendrikse gets front-foot ball, the back three of Fassi, Mapimpi, and van der Merwe can punish any defensive lapse. But this Sharks side lost 44–17 at this ground just five months ago, got beaten 31–5 at Leinster, and 56–19 at Toulouse — they are beatable in Europe. Connacht's home record and the travel factor tip the balance.
Connacht to win a tight, physical knockout contest — but the Sharks' Springbok quality means this could go either way in the final quarter.