It will be a Merry Christmas for the Stormers and Sharks after Vodacom URC derby wins this past weekend.

After the Stormers consolidated their position at the top of the standings and the Sharks continued their renaissance under JP Pietersen, the South African clubs can enjoy a weekend off before hostilities resume in early January.

URC round-eight action takes place on Boxing Day and 27 December, but minus the SA sides. The Lions will play their round-eight fixture against the Sharks at Ellis Park on 21 February, while the Stormers will travel to Loftus to take on the Vodacom Bulls on 14 March.

The South African teams are next back in action in round nine, which takes place 1-3 January when the Sharks host the Lions and the Bulls travel to Cape Town.

DOBBO: Good teams win when not playing well

The STORMERS have added to their burgeoning reputation as they remain the only unbeaten team in the competition after seeing off the Lions 34-27 in Cape Town in round seven.

It wasn’t perfect but the Cape side managed to secure victory despite the untimely injury withdrawals of flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and centre Ruhan Nel, and the continued absence of utility back Damian Willemse.

The Stormers top the URC log with 32 points from seven games, three ahead of second-placed Munster. It is still early days in the SA Shield, but with the Bulls next, John Dobson’s men will look to cement their dominance over local rivals.