The Vodacom Blue Bulls have named an exciting young squad for this year’s Carling Currie Cup competition, featuring no less than six players who won the World Junior Championship with the Junior Springboks this past weekend.
A World Cup winner and a few surprise choices are in coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s squad for the Premier domestic tournament while there is a long injury list that will also hopefully be shortened before too long.
Marvin Orie - who signed for the Bulls from Perpignan on a short-term contract until the end of the Currie Cup - is one of the more seasoned campaigners in a squad that will be captained by Nama Xaba.
New signing Dylan de Leeuw, who returned to South Africa from a stint in Italy with Zebre, as well as former Cheetahs flanker Jeandre Rudolph are the new signings, while there was some surprise to see the names of Junior Pokomela and former Bok Lizo Gqoboka both signed from Western Province.
Among the backs, there is experience in former Scottish international Jaco van der Walt, with Henry Immelmann (back from the Sharks) and Boeta Chamberlain joining former Sevens Bok Stedman Gans in the backline stocks.
The Junior Boks to run out for the Currie Cup side include Cheswill Jooste, Demitre Erasmus, JJ Theron, Jean Erasmus, Jaco Grobbelaar and Esethu Mnebelele. All of them arrived back from Italy full of confidence and ready to link up with the team.
“They’ve put in the work,” said Nomlomo, who is under no illusions as to the strength of the competition. “There’s massive competition for places, so I’m looking forward to what unfolds.”
The long injury list includes seasoned players like Celimpilo Gumede, Aphiwe Dyantyi and Nizaam Carr.
Vodacom Bulls – 2025 Carling Currie Cup Final Squad
Forwards: Abri vd Westhuysen; Cassie Badenhorst; Dylan de Leeuw; Dylan Smith; Esethu Mnebelele; Francois Klopper; Jacobus Grobbelaar; Jean Erasmus; Jeandre Rudolph; JJ Theron; Joe van Zyl; Junior Pokomela; Lizo Gqoboka; Marco Ferreira; Marvin Orie; Nama Xaba (captain); Ruan Swart; Shaun Schurmann; Sintu Manjezi.
Backs: Boeta Chamberlain; Brooklyn Newmann; Cheswill Jooste; Chris Barend Smit; Daimon O’Connell; Demitre Erasmus; Henry Immelman; Jaco vd Walt; Katlego Letebele; Liam Koen; PA van Niekerk; Riyaad Bam; Stedman Gans; Steven Nel; Stravino Jacobs; Zak Burger.
Injured: Aphiwe Dyantyi; Celimpilo Gumede; Corne Beets; Cornel Smit; Heinrich Theron; Juann Else; Khutha Mchunu; Nizaam Carr; Simphiwe Matanzima.