Rugby
Fifteen Springboks included in Bulls squad to Europe─── ILSE SMALBERGER 14:37 Mon, 12 Jan 2026
The Bulls say serious conversations are being had in view of their impending exit from the Investec Champions Cup.
The Bristol Bears recorded a massive 61-49 victory over the Bulls in their third-round Champions Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, all but ending the hosts’ charge to the playoffs. It was the men from Pretoria’s seventh successive defeat in all competitions.
The number of tries the men from Pretoria missed is hugely concerning, but Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says the team had a visit from Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones in the past week, who had offered some input before the game.
Photo: Facebook/Vodacom Bulls
“If you make mistakes and you are not winning, they just look bigger, and people focus on that,” he said.
Earlier today, the Bulls announced their touring squad ahead of their next Champions Cup and Vodacom URC fixtures against Pau and Edinburgh, respectively. Among these are Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie, who recently spent time out due to concussion protocols.
Cheswill Jooste also finds himself on the plane to Europe and will be available for both fixtures.
Handré Pollard. Photo: X
The team will be looking to boost their Cup ambitions on Friday evening, although Pau are in solid form. They lie second in the Top 14 and beat the Scarlets away on Saturday.
The following weekend, the Vodacom Bulls travel to Edinburgh to pick up their VURC campaign. Ruan Vermaak and Reinhardt Ludwig will provide cover at lock, while Keagan Johannes will back up Handré Pollard in the number 10 jersey.
Gerhard Steenekamp misses out due to injury.
PAU/Edinburgh tour group:
- Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Alulutho Tshakweni; Sti Sithole
- Johan Grobbelaar; Akker van der Merwe;
- Wilco Louw; Mornay Smith; Francois Klopper
- Cobus Wiese; Ruan Vermaak
- Ruan Nortje; Reinhardt Ludwig
- Marco van Staden; Marcell Coetzee
- Elrigh Louw; Mpilo Gumede
- Jeandre Rudolph; Nizaam Carr
- Embrose Papier; Zak Burger
- Handré Pollard; Keagan Johannes
- Kurt-Lee Arendse; Stravino Jacobs
- Harold Vorster; David Kriel
- Canan Moodie; Stedman Gans
- Sebastian de Klerk; Cheswill Jooste
- Willie le Roux; Devon Williams
OFM Sport mvh
