Nortje to lead strong Bulls squad into URC

Springbok lock Ruan Nortje has again been named the captain of the Vodacom Bulls sqahead of this season’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Nortje, who was named as part of a 56-man squad by coach Johan Ackermann, will lead the side into battle when he returns from the Boks, but there are a number of other senior players who can lead the team in his absence.

The squad, which comprises 32 forwards, and 24 backs - is heavy on experience, and includes the new signings of veteran double World Cup winning Springbok Handre Pollard, former Montpellier duo of Jan Serfontein and Nico Janse van Rensburg - both of whom have returned to the Bulls and new signing Paul de Wet from the Stormers.

Interestingly Jeandre Rudolph, the Cheetahs No 8 that joined the team on a short term contract for the Currie Cup, has been retained and will be with the team for the URC as well.

There are also Junior Springboks that won the World Cup with Kevin Foote’s side included - including hooker Esethu Mnebelele, No 8 JJ Theron, prop Jean Erasmus, lock Jaco Grobbelaar and 18-year old winger Cheswill Jooste.

The injury list is still significant, including Akker van der Merwe, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Ruan Vermaak and Nizaam Carr - all of whom are part of the rehab squad at the moment and will return at various stages of the season.

In the front row, Boks Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Wilco Louw headline the team, while new signing Sti Sithole is a welcome addition.

At lock former SA under-20 lock JF van Heerden is joined by a wealth of talent, including Grobbelaar, Nortje, Vermaak, Janse van Rensburg and new Bok Cobus Wiese, while Sintu Manjezi has joined after the Currie Cup.

Nama Xaba’s Currie Cup leadership gets him into the wider group, with Bok Marco van Staden and veteran Marcell Coetzee a formidable six jersey line-up. While Louw and Hanekom recover, the other members of the loose trio will see Jannes Kirsten, Celimpilo Gumede, Theron and Rudolph fight for spots in the starting line-up.

Embrose Papier will have a fight on his hands for a spot with De Wet, Zak Burger and SA under-20 halfback Steven Nel while Pollard has Johan Goosen and Keagan Johannes as his back-ups at 10. Interestingly there is no place for former Scottish 10 Jaco van der Walt.

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie have competition on the wings from veteran Sergeal Petersen, upstart Jooste, former Bok Aphiwe Dyantyi and Stravino Jacobs, and if all can stay fit, they should have a good choice for speed out wide.

Serfontein and Harold Vorster should cover the 12 jersey with SA under-20 PA Van Niekerk an outside shot while Stedman Gans and David Kriel have speedster Katlego Letebelele - who we are more accustomed to seeing on the wing - as their main competition in the midfield.

Bok veteran Willie le Roux and Devon Williams will once again form the core of the last line of defence while former Edinburgh fullback Henry Immelmann is also there.

BULLS SQUAD FOR URC

FORWARDS (32)

1. Alu Tshakweni; Gerhard Steenekamp; Jan Hendrik Wessels; Sti Sithole; Ruan Swart

2. Johan Grobbelaar; Akker van der Merwe; Juann Else; Esethu Mnebelele

3. Wilco Louw; Francois Klopper; Mornay Smith; Jean Erasmus; Khuta Mchunu

4. JF van Heerden; Ruan Nortje; Ruan Vermaak; Jaco Grobbelaar; Sintu Manjezi

5. Reinhardt Ludwig; Cobus Wiese; Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg

6. Marco v Staden; Marcell Coetzee; Nama Xaba

7. Jannes Kirsten; Nizaam Carr; Elrich Louw

8. Cameron Hanekom; Mpilo Gumede; JJ Theron; Jeandre Rudolph

BACKS (24)

9. Embrose Papier; Paul de Wet; Zak Burger; Steven Nel