Team of the Week: EPCR Challenge Cup Round 2 - Ruck
European Challenge Cup Rugby News Team Of The Week

Team of the Week: EPCR Challenge Cup Round 2

16 December 2025
Tom Sansom

Round two of the EPCR Challenge Cup delivered another weekend of high drama, late twists and statement performances across the cross-continentel competition, as clubs looked to seize early control of their European campaigns. From last-gasp winners and bench-driven turnarounds to emphatic pool-stage statements, the competition once again showcased the depth of talent operating just beneath the Champions Cup spotlight.

With momentum already proving crucial in tightly contested pools, Round 2 offered revealed which players are thriving under European pressure — and which sides are beginning to find their rhythm. Here is RUCK’s EPCR Challenge Cup Team of the Week for Round 2, featuring match-winners, tone-setters and standout performers from a thrilling weekend of action.

15. Boeta Chamberlain (Newcastle Red Bulls)

Boeta Chamberlain continues to grow into one of Newcastle’s most important European operators, producing another composed and intelligent performance in the Red Bulls’ narrow 14-10 victory over the Emirates Lions. The South African fullback was sharp under the high ball, incisive in broken play, and calmly slotted a crucial conversion in a match decided by fine margins.

Chamberlain’s influence extended well beyond his individual skillset. With Christian Wade forced off early after being knock unconscious, the 26-year-old took immediate responsibility in re-organising a reshuffled back three, communicating clearly and ensuring Newcastle retained their defensive structure under pressure. A graduate of the renowned Paarl Boys’ High School, Chamberlain’s rugby education is evident in his versatility across fly-half and fullback, and he once again proved paramount against South African opposition.

14. Werner Kok (Ulster)

Ulster may have fallen agonisingly short in Cardiff, but Werner Kok emerged with significant credit following a barnstorming display on the wing. The South African was a constant thorn in the hosts’ side, crossing for two powerful tries that combined his trademark physicality with deceptive pace and footwork.

Kok repeatedly punched holes in the Cardiff defence, dragging Ulster back into a contest that looked to be slipping away before the decisive late penalty swung the result. His efforts ensured Ulster secured both a losing bonus point and a try-scoring bonus — a small consolation, perhaps, but a testament to Kok’s relentless drive and impact across the full 80 minutes.

13. Paolo Odogwu (Benetton)

Paolo Odogwu’s resurgence in Italian rugby shows no signs of slowing. Deployed at outside centre rather than his more familiar wing role, the former Wasps star delivered a standout performance in Benetton’s impressive 44-31 victory over Perpignan.

Odogwu struck twice inside the opening half hour, showcasing his explosive footwork, upper-body strength and growing comfort in midfield traffic. Once considered a fringe England option, he now looks firmly set on carving out a long-term future with Italy, and performances like this will only strengthen his case for a prominent role in the Azzurri backline ahead of the 2026 Six Nations.

12. Joe Marchant (Stade Français)

From one former England hopeful to another on the verge of returning to the frame, Joe Marchant was exceptional as Stade Français swept aside the Toyota Cheetahs 45-22 away from home. The centre was dominant in contact, assertive in defence and sharp in attack, crossing for a try to cap a commanding all-round display.

With a move back to the Premiership confirmed for the 2026/27 season at Sale Sharks, Marchant’s form is peaking at the perfect time. At 26 caps and counting, he will firmly re-enter Steve Borthwick’s eligibility pool, and outings like this serve as a reminder of the qualities that once made him a staple of England’s midfield plans with the 2027 Rugby World Cup creeping in over the horizon.

11. Shayne Bolton (Connacht)

Shayne Bolton was one of the chief architects behind Connacht’s ruthless 52-0 dismantling of Black Lion in Galway. The wing crossed for two well-taken tries and was a constant menace whenever the ball found space, exploiting defensive gaps with pace and intelligent lines.

The Georgian visitors were overwhelmed by Connacht’s tempo, with Bolton’s finishing emblematic of the province’s attacking sharpness. Having featured for Ireland ‘A’ in November against Spain, the South Africa-born back-three man will be eager to carry this momentum into the second half of the season and place himself firmly on the radar for a senior Ireland call-up in 2026.

10. Callum Sheedy (Cardiff)

The pressure moments belong to Callum Sheedy, and the Cardiff fly-half delivered when it mattered most. With the scores tied at 26-26 and with the clock in the red, Sheedy stepped up to calmly slot the match-winning penalty and secure a famous Challenge Cup victory over Ulster at Cardiff Arms Park.

Beyond the decisive kick, Sheedy’s performance was one of authority and control. He marshalled his pack intelligently, managed territory astutely, and dictated tempo throughout a high-intensity encounter. If Wales are searching for composure and game management heading toward the 2026 Six Nations, Sheedy’s clutch display will not have gone unnoticed.

9. Thibaut Motassi (Stade Français)

Honourable mention goes to Connacht’s Caolin Blade for bagging two tries against Black Lion, but the nod this week belongs to Stade Français scrum-half Thibaut Motassi. The Frenchman was instrumental in dismantling the Toyota Cheetahs, scoring twice and keeping the Parisian side at a relentless tempo.

Motassi opened the scoring inside six minutes and added his second shortly after the restart, while his crisp service and decision-making ensured Stade Français consistently played on the front foot. A performance that highlighted both his attacking instincts and his growing maturity as a game-controlling nine.

1. Danny Southworth (Cardiff)

Danny Southworth’s rapid rise continues. Just a couple of short weeks after making his Wales debut at the Principality Stadium against the Springboks, the loose-head returned to domestic duty and played a pivotal role off the bench in Cardiff’s dramatic win over Ulster.

Southworth scrummaged aggressively upon introduction and provided crucial front-row ballast as Cardiff turned the tide. His well-taken try proved a momentum shifter, injecting belief into the hosts at a critical stage. A powerful outing from a prop growing in confidence at both regional and international level.

2. Oli Burrows (Dragons)

Oli Burrows produced a tireless, uncompromising display as the Dragons mounted a thrilling comeback against Lyon. Playing 74 minutes, the young hooker was a model of consistency — accurate at the lineout, solid at scrum time, and relentless in his work around the park.

Burrows also crossed for a vital try that helped ignite the Dragons’ revival, setting the stage for late heroics. The former Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates man continues to impress, and this performance will only strengthen his case as a genuine contender for Wales’ number two jersey.

3. Murray McCallum (Newcastle Red Bulls)

Murray McCallum was the definition of impact from the bench. Introduced with just over 25 minutes remaining, the tight-head immediately injected energy and aggression into Newcastle’s forward play against the Lions.

His influence culminated in a dramatic 78th-minute try that sealed victory and sent Kingston Park into raptures. The 29-year-old, formerly of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Worcester, is clearly relishing his fresh start in the North East, and his form may yet earn him Scotland consideration with Gregor Townsend present across Newcastle Red Bulls and the national set-up.

4. Florian Verhaeghe (Montpellier)

Florian Verhaeghe delivered a commanding shift in Montpellier’s 31-7 victory over Zebre Parma. The lock was dominant at the set-piece, disruptive at the breakdown, and relentless in defence throughout a controlled team performance.

Verhaeghe capped his afternoon with a 70th-minute try, but it was his unseen work — organising the maul, cleaning rucks, and repeatedly winning collisions — that truly stood out. At 28, he will be keen to force his way back into France contention with performances of this calibre.

5. Rusi Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)

Rusi Tuima’s upward trajectory continues to gather pace. The Exeter Chiefs forward impressed at lock in a pulsating 31-31 draw with Racing 92, scoring a try and offering physicality across both tight and loose exchanges.

Tuima’s family pedigree is well known — nephew of Akapusi Qera, brother of Red Roses star Lagi Tuima, and cousin of Joe Cokanasiga — and he increasingly looks destined for Test rugby himself. A brief sin-bin was a rare blemish on an otherwise standout display that keeps him firmly in England’s conversation.

6. Harri Keddie (Dragons)

Harri Keddie delivered one of the defining performances of the round. Introduced with the Dragons trailing, the back-rower turned the contest on its head with two clutch tries in the final quarter, either side of Oli Burrows’ score.

Keddie’s energy, physicality and eye for the try-line sparked belief and ultimately snatched victory from Lyon’s grasp. A breathtaking impact off the bench that underlined his potential value to Wales heading into the next international cycle.

7. Tom Christie (Newcastle Red Bulls)

Tom Christie’s influence since arriving from New Zealand has been immediate and profound. Fresh from lifting both the Super Rugby Pacific title with the Crusaders and the NPC crown with Canterbury, Christie has brought that winning mentality to Newcastle.

Against the Lions, he was everywhere — chopping down carriers, competing ferociously at the breakdown, and offering dynamic support in attack. A superb acquisition for Alan Dickens’ side and one already stamping his authority on European competition.

8. Paul Boyle (Connacht)

Last but certainly not least is Connacht number eight Paul Boyle, who delivered a staggering hat-trick inside the opening 27 minutes against Black Lion. Boyle crossed in the first, eighth and 27th minutes, setting the tone for one of the most dominant individual displays of the round.

The back-rower’s power, timing and work rate overwhelmed the visitors, and his performance mirrored that of teammate Shayne Bolton in underlining Connacht’s attacking ruthlessness. Having represented Ireland ‘A’ in the autumn, Boyle will hope this form earns him a long-awaited return to the senior international stage, having won his sole full Ireland cap back in the Summer of 2021.

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