Ackermann confirms Springbok return timeline
INTERVIEW: The Bulls will head into the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship season with a squad packed with international quality, but Johan Ackermann says managing the availability of his Springbok players will once again be one of the biggest challenges of the campaign.
The Pretoria side’s 55-man squad includes 15 Springboks and a host of new signings as they prepare for another assault on the URC title after reaching the Grand Final four times since the competition began.
The Bulls kick off their season with back-to-back away fixtures against Zebre in Parma and Munster at Thomond Park before returning home to face the Lions at Loftus Versfeld.
However, they will have to navigate the opening rounds without their Springbok contingent, who are currently in Australia for next Sunday’s Test against the Wallabies before linking up for the northern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship in November.
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Only two games without the Boks
Ackermann revealed that the Bulls are expected to be without their Springboks for only the opening two matches of the URC season before welcoming them back for the Lions derby.
“In theory, they’re only going to miss these two touring games, and then they’re available from there on,” Ackermann said.
“So that’s the good news.”
The Bulls coach believes the schedule is kinder than last season, when the franchise had to cope without several Springboks for almost five matches at the start of the competition.
“When we play Zebre, they’re playing Australia. The week after, when we play Munster, they’ll be back in South Africa. Then, when we play the Lions, we can actually select them.
“That helps a lot. It’s only those two games. Last year it was almost five games in the beginning, and then you start chasing if you don’t win.”
Nations Championship will affect all franchises
*Also read: Bulls unveil 55-man squad packed with Boks, exciting new faces
Ackermann added that there will still be periods later in the season when the Springboks are unavailable but said those absences will impact every South African franchise equally.
“There are one or two games later in the season that they’ll miss, but that’s going to be for all the franchises,” he explained.
He pointed to the Bulls’ January clash against the Stormers as one fixture that could fall during a Springbok alignment camp or mandatory rest period.
“If that’s a camp week or a rest week, it depends on who has the most guys in camp. Then we’re both going to be without them.”
While the coach admitted reintegrating returning internationals is never straightforward, he believes the Bulls are in a much healthier position than they were 12 months ago.
“We still have to integrate them when they come back because they haven’t been at home for quite a while,” he said.
“But in that sense we’re better off than last season.
“That doesn’t guarantee we’re going to win. We still have to play well, but we’re definitely in a better position than we were at the start of last season.”
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