Bulls at full strength as 17 Springboks included in squad for URC final against Leinster
Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has named an extended 32-man squad for next Friday’s eagerly anticipated United Rugby Championship (URC) final clash against Leinster in Dublin.
Leinster and the Pretoria-based outfit are set to face off at Croke Park in a repeat of last year’s final which the Irish province won 32-7.
The Bulls‘ travelling squad reflects a carefully balanced blend of experience, youth, and versatility, positioning the team strongly for the demands of a high-pressure occasion.
Strong Springboks representation
Ackermann has named 17 Springboks in his group, including seasoned internationals such as Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard, Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse, bringing invaluable big-match experience and leadership.
This is complemented by an exciting group of up-and-coming talent, including one-Test Springboks number eight Cameron Hanekom and highly rated SA U20 speedster Cheswill Jooste, whose energy and attacking threat add a dynamic edge.
Up front, the composition of the forwards offers both physicality and mobility.
Included in the squad are players like Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden who contribute a high work-rate and breakdown presence as well as the likes of Ruan Nortje and Cobus Wiese who provide the size and power needed to anchor the set-piece.
Meanwhile, the front-row, in particular, stands out for its depth and experience, ensuring scrummaging stability and the ability to maintain intensity throughout the match.
In the backline, the squad combines control and creativity.
Springboks star Pollard’s game management and tactical kicking are complemented by fellow experienced international Le Roux’s vision and playmaking ability, while strike runners such as Arendse, Moodie and Jooste offer genuine pace and finishing quality.
The inclusion of players capable of covering multiple positions, such as Moodie, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Nizaam Carr, adds valuable flexibility both in selection and during the game itself.
Overall, the squad is well-rounded and consists of a strong leadership group as well as back-up players capable of making a meaningful impact.
It is a group built not only on individual quality but on cohesion and adaptability, qualities that will be crucial in a final.
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Bulls squad for 2026 URC final
Forwards: Alulutho Tshakweni, Akker van der Merwe, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Wiese, Elrigh Louw, Francois Klopper, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Jeandre Rudolph, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Marcell Coetzee, Mpilo Gumede, Mornay Smith, Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Wilco Louw
Backs: Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Devon Williams, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Keagan Johannes, Katlego Letebele, Stedman Gans, Stravino Jacobs, Willie le Roux, Zak Burger
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