Bulls reveal 2020 Super Rugby squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach, Pote Human, has selected his 40 man squad that will do duty in this year’s Super Rugby.
The squad has a blend of experience and youth with Human opting for 22 forwards and 18 backs with less than two weeks to go until their opening clash against the Sharks in Durban.
Burger Odendaal will captain the team while marshalling the inside channel and will have international experience to call on from Loftus favourite Morné Steyn returning to Pretoria after several seasons in France.
The Bulls will also get to enjoy the services of Tongan international, Nafi Tuitavake, as the 18 Test centre returns to Super Rugby after plying his trade in England.
The backs have several new youthful players that have proved their worth for other teams but now have the opportunity to do the same for the Bulls at senior levels, guys such as Chris Smith and Richard Kriel will be eagerly waiting in the wings.
New faces amongst the forwards include former Bull and Springbok lock, Juandré Kruger; Scottish capped Josh Strauss and Namibian hooker Louis van der Westhuizen who all bolster a forward pack that is brimming with players who want to leave their mark on the tournament including Muller Uys, Jeandré Rudolph and Abongile Nonkontwana.
Bulls 2020 squad:
Forwards: Simphiwe Matanzima, Gerhard Steenekamp, Lizo Gqoboka, Corniel Els, Jaco Visagie, Muller Uys, Johan Grobbelaar, Louis van der Westhuizen, Trevor Nyakane, Wiehahn Herbst, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Andries Ferreira, Ryno Pieterse, Ian Groenewald, Juandré Kruger, Ruan Nortje, Tim Agaba, Marco van Staden, Jeandré Rudolph, Ruan Steenkamp, Abongile Nonkontwana, Wian Vosloo, Josh Strauss.
Backs: Ivan van Zyl, Embrose Papier, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Morné Steyn, Chris Smith, Manie Libbok, Rosko Specman, Divan Rossouw, Burger Odendaal, Dylan Sage, Franco Naude, Cornal Hendricks, Nafi Tuitavake, Marnus Potgieter, Johnny Kotze, Jade Stighling, Warrick Gelant, Richard Kriel.
Bulls Management 2020:
Head coach: Pote Human
Backs: Chris Rossouw
Defence: Pine Pienaar
Scrums: Daan Human
Technical analyst: John William Meyer
Team manager: Elias Bennett
Team doctor: Dr Herman Rossouw
Physiotherapists: Lance Lemmetjies, Pieter du Plessis
Strength and Conditioning: Jacus Coetzee
Team psychologist: Dr Jannie Botha
Team logistics: Simon Dyidi
