Have the Bulls become the new Bok conveyor belt?
STAT ATTACK: The Bulls have overtaken their local rivals for having the most Springboks in the national side ahead of their end-of-year tour.
The Bulls boast nine players in the Bok squad, followed by the Sharks with seven, the Stormers with five and the Lions with one.
*To read the full Bok squad announcement, CLICK HERE!
On the 2024 end-of-year tour, the Sharks dominated with the most Springboks (11), but that number significantly dropped.
Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Jaden Hendrikse, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi and Aphelele Fassi are all omitted from the 2025 squad, with Fassi currently out injured.
The only addition to the Sharks’ list this year is Andre Esterhuizen, who was on the 2024 tour but as a Harlequins player.
Bulls president Willem Strauss proudly stated that his side is the frontrunner of Boks being produced.
“Congratulations to our nine Springboks selected, the most of any SA province or overseas club!”, Strauss said.
“Also, special congratulations to Sebastian de Klerk, whose great development has earned him a standby position.
“Only five/six years ago, we produced very few Springboks; now we are our national team’s biggest provider!”
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The only exception is Wilco Louw, who became a Bok during his time at the Stormers who he will rejoin in 2026.
It’s a testament to the foundation laid by the Bulls management and Jake White, who developed these players, with the likes of Elrich Louw and Cameron Hanekom still sidelined with injury, who also could’ve been part of the current picture.
Only two of the Sharks’ seven representatives (Ethan Hooker and Andre Esterhuizen) became Springboks whilst representing the Durban-based outfit.
The five Stormers representatives, with the exception of Cobus Reinach, who is yet to debut for the Capetonians, all earned their national colours playing for the team in blue and white.
The Lions’ only representation comes in the form of Morné van den Berg, although had it not been for Asenathi Ntlabakanye’s upcoming hearing for a doping charge, he would’ve possibly been part of the picture as well.
