{"209":{"title":"Six Nations","uri":"six-nations","id":"108","oid":"209","order":0,"hasData":1},"210":{"title":"Rugby World Cup","uri":"rugby-world-cup","id":"111","oid":"210","order":1,"hasData":1},"3":{"title":"International","uri":"internationals","id":"107","oid":"3","order":3,"hasData":1},"201":{"title":"Gallagher Premiership","uri":"premiership","id":"101","oid":"201","order":4,"hasData":1},"204":{"title":"United Rugby Championship","uri":"united-rugby-championship","id":"138","oid":"204","order":5,"hasData":1},"203":{"title":"TOP 14","uri":"top-14","id":"102","oid":"203","order":6,"hasData":1},"217":{"title":"U20 Six Nations","uri":"u20-six-nations","id":"217","oid":"217","order":7,"hasData":1},"211":{"title":"Pro D2","uri":"pro-d2","id":"119","oid":"211","order":8,"hasData":1},"208":{"title":"Bunnings NPC","uri":"bunnings-npc","id":"105","oid":"208","order":9,"hasData":1},"242":{"title":"Investec Champions Cup","uri":"european-champions-cup","id":"110","oid":"242","order":10,"hasData":1},"243":{"title":"Challenge Cup","uri":"challenge-cup","id":"118","oid":"243","order":11,"hasData":1},"340":{"title":"PWR","uri":"premiership-womens-rugby","id":"127","oid":"340","order":12,"hasData":1},"205":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby","id":"104","oid":"205","order":13,"hasData":1},"207":{"title":"Currie Cup","uri":"currie-cup","id":"106","oid":"207","order":14,"hasData":1},"248":{"title":"Women's Six Nations","uri":"womens-six-nations","id":"125","oid":"248","order":16,"hasData":1},"274":{"title":"Women's Internationals","uri":"womens-internationals","id":"274","oid":"274","order":17,"hasData":1},"249":{"title":"Women's Rugby World Cup","uri":"womens-rugby-world-cup","id":"126","oid":"249","order":18,"hasData":1},"365":{"title":"Autumn Nations Series","uri":"autumn-nations-series","id":"124","oid":"365","order":19,"hasData":1},"2000":{"title":"Nations Championship","uri":"nations-championship","id":"2000","oid":"2000","order":20,"hasData":1},"1":{"title":"Rugby Hybrid Friendlies","uri":"rugby-hybrid-friendlies","id":"1","oid":"1","order":21,"hasData":1},"269":{"title":"Rugby Europe Championship","uri":"rugby-europe-championship","id":"269","oid":"269","order":22,"hasData":1},"221":{"title":"British & Irish Lions 2025","uri":"british-irish-lions","id":"113","oid":"221","order":23,"hasData":1},"214":{"title":"The Rugby Championship","uri":"the-rugby-championship","id":"109","oid":"214","order":24,"hasData":1},"141":{"title":"Super Rugby Pacific","uri":"super-rugby-pacific","id":"141","oid":"141","order":25,"hasData":1},"216":{"title":"World Rugby Junior World Championship","uri":"world-rugby-u20-championship","id":"216","oid":"216","order":25,"hasData":1},"219":{"title":"Pacific Nations Cup","uri":"pacific-nations-cup","id":"219","oid":"219","order":26,"hasData":1},"120":{"title":"Pacific Four Series","uri":"pacific-four-series","id":"120","oid":"120","order":27,"hasData":1},"862":{"title":"WXV 1","uri":"wxv-1","id":"862","oid":"862","order":29,"hasData":1},"863":{"title":"WXV 2","uri":"wxv-2","id":"863","oid":"863","order":30,"hasData":1},"864":{"title":"WXV 3","uri":"wxv-3","id":"864","oid":"864","order":31,"hasData":1},"151":{"title":"Major League Rugby","uri":"major-league-rugby","id":"131","oid":"151","order":32,"hasData":1},"116":{"title":"Premiership Cup","uri":"premiership-cup","id":"116","oid":"116","order":34,"hasData":1}}
38 - 19
FT
51 - 25
FT
24 - 25
FT
54 - 28
FT
24 - 34
FT
29 - 14
FT
17 - 27
FT
36 - 36
FT
27 - 27
FT
7 - 38
FT
21 - 43
FT
33 - 40
FT
14 - 39
FT
27 - 47
FT
56 - 20
FT
21 - 40
FT
23 - 48
FT
49 - 12
FT
45 - 36
FT
31 - 14
FT
47 - 14
FT
33 - 25
FT
14 - 32
FT
14 - 26
FT
38 - 28
FT
29 - 27
FT
57 - 19
FT
41 - 17
FT
43 - 40
FT
18 - 9
FT
28 - 12
FT
Thursday
21:00
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
19:30
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
20:45
Friday
21:00
Friday
21:00
Saturday
07:50
Saturday
13:45
Saturday
14:30
Saturday
16:00
Saturday
16:00
Saturday
16:05
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
18:30
Saturday
19:00
Saturday
20:00
Saturday
21:00

Bulls bank on experience

By Online Editors
Wednesday 15 Aug 2018

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named an experienced team for Friday’s opening match of the Currie Cup against the Free State in Bloemfontein.

ADVERTISEMENT

No.8 Hanro Liebenberg leads the side that will include only one Currie Cup debutant, lock Ruan Nortje, in the run-on side at Toyota Park.

Flank Thembelani Bholi will make his Blue Bulls debut in the competition, and so will Theo Maree and Earll Dowrie if they take to the field off the bench.

Liebenberg said the squad are keen to start on a winning note. “We have the ability, no doubt, so the challenge will be to make sure we play according to that.

“There are some really good players in both teams and I think we are in for a great game. That is exactly what we want as a group, to be tested against the best out there,”

Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Matthys Basson.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Hendre Stassen, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Earll Douwrie.

Date: Friday, August 17
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

1
Wallabies' Bledisloe crash reaffirms Boks, All Blacks as only real RWC 2027 contenders
2
Top dogs deliver on emotional weekend for SA rugby
3
Lions show courage after tragedy in defeat to Stade Rochelais

Join free

Has Beauden Barrett Just Secured His World Cup Place? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 36

KOKO Show | 13 October 2026 | WALLABIES BROUGHT CRASHING BACK TO EARTH! All Blacks Deliver Bledisloe Reality Check!

What Rugby Fans Don't See: Ben O'Keeffe on Life Under Pressure | ARP Extra

What Did the All Blacks’ Big Win Prove? | Episode 35 | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Canada v England | WXV Global Series

MLR Weekly: New England Owner Errik Anderson re expansion/future, MLR News, College Rugby Corner

Spain v South Africa | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

Chile v Hong Kong China | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Belgium v Portugal | U20 Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Recommended

Currie Cup

Exeter Chiefs set to swoop in on England-qualified Pumas forward

6d
3
Currie Cup

'The best is yet to come': Bok wing hangs up his boots

7d
1
Currie Cup

Stormers lose Junior World Champion to fellow SA team

12d
26
Currie Cup

Could a combined Currie Cup and NPC competition have a commercial future?

12d
53

Write A Comment

Trending

1
Wallabies' Bledisloe crash reaffirms Boks, All Blacks as only real RWC 2027 contenders
2
Top dogs deliver on emotional weekend for SA rugby
3
Lions show courage after tragedy in defeat to Stade Rochelais