Bulls name 14 Springboks in Champions Cup squad

The Bulls have confirmed their strongest possible squad for the upcoming Champions Cup tournament, featuring 14 Springboks. The South African union will open their campaign against Stade Français at Loftus on Saturday, followed by matches against Montpellier in France, Bath at home, and Northampton Saints away in January. The Bulls aim to improve on their disappointing performances in the Champions Cup over the past four seasons.

Last season, they were eliminated in the last-16 stage after a 46-33 home defeat against Union Bordeaux Bègles. They did not reach the play-offs in the 2024/25 season, and were defeated by Northampton Saints 59-22 in 2023/24. However, they reached the quarter-finals in 2022/23, losing 33-9 to Toulouse. The Bulls are entering the tournament after a nine-try victory over the Lions.

Their 42-man squad is a balanced mix of depth and elite talent across every position, with 24 forwards and 18 backs. The flyhalf spot is fiercely contested, with World Cup winner Handré Pollard, Curwin Bosch, and promising Luan Giliomee all earning their places. The second-row is strong despite the departure of Ruan Nortjé, with Ruan Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Jaco Grobbelaar, JF van Heerden, and Reinhardt Ludwig providing five world-class options.

The back row boasts power and experience, with Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw, Hanro Liebenberg, Cameron Hanekom, Jeandré Rudolph, and captain Hanro Liebenberg contributing to the team's formidable presence. The squad also features 10 specialist front-rowers to handle the rigors of European competition.