Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has announced a strong 28-men touring squad that will travel to the United Kingdom and France for back-to-back fixtures in the 2022/23 Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) and the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup.
The Bulls will first take on Ulster Rugby in round 16 of the URC at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Kick-off for that clash is set for 9:35pm SA time.
The following week, the South African outfit will travel to France to take on Stade Toulousain in round 16 of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup. The knockout clash at Le Stadium in Toulouse is set to kick off at 4pm SA time.
Squad for Europe ??@Vodacom #URC | #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/DgkogkauE5
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 21, 2023
Speaking on the composition of the travelling party, White remarked: “We are playing in multiple competitions and so it becomes important for us to balance our sides. Both the team travelling and the one remaining to focus on the Currie Cup campaign - we believe - has the best possible chance at getting the results we want,”
“We have also left behind some experienced players like Lizo Gqoboka, Jacques du Plessis, Mihlali Mosi and Sbu Nkosi, who need more game time but also have the wisdom to flank the youngsters when they travel to Bloemfontein. This is important because we want to do well in that competition as much as it is our ambition to do well in Europe.”
VODACOM BULLS TOURING SQUAD:
Forwards: 1. Bismarck Du Plessis, 2. Cyle Brink, 3. Dylan Smith, 4. Elrigh Louw, 5. Francois Klopper, 6. Gerard Steenekamp, 7. Janko Swanepoel, 8. Johann Grobbelaar, 9. Marco van Staden, 10. Merwe Olivier, 11. Mornay Smith, 12. Ruan Nortje (c), 13. Ruan Vermaak, 14. Simphiwe Matanzima, 15. Tiaan Lange, 16. WJ Steenkamp
Backs: 1. Canan Moodie, 2. Chris Smith, 3. Cornal Hendricks, 4. David Kriel, 5. Embrose Papier, 6. Harold Vorster, 7. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 8. Morne Steyn, 9. Niel Le Roux, 10. Sibongile Novuka, 11. Stedman Gans, 12. Zak Burger
MANAGEMENT: Jake White - Director of Rugby, Nollis Marais - Breakdown, Russell Winter - Forwards, Chris Rossouw - Backs, Werner Kruger - Scrum Coach, Pine Pienaar - Defense Coach, Andre Volsteedt - Strength & Conditioning, John-William Meyer - Technical Analyst, Dr. Herman Rossouw - Team Doctor, Lance Lemmetjies - Senior Physiotherapist, Kyle Meyer - Physiotherapist, Elias Bennett - Team Manager, Simon Dyidi - Logistics Manager