{"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}}
22 - 24
FT
33 - 37
FT
66 - 21
FT
50 - 21
FT
20 - 22
FT
23 - 27
FT
17 - 19
FT
32 - 17
FT
36 - 27
FT
19 - 16
FT
28 - 52
FT
15 - 20
FT
29 - 27
FT
46 - 24
FT
10 - 20
FT
51 - 25
FT
50 - 13
FT
33 - 19
FT
23 - 29
FT
24 - 25
FT
55 - 19
FT
40 - 10
FT
Thursday
09:10
Thursday
21:00
Friday
09:10
Friday
19:30
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
Saturday
04:05
Saturday
07:05
Saturday
09:10
Saturday
13:30
Saturday
14:30
Saturday
16:00
Saturday
16:05
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
16:35
Saturday
18:30
Saturday
18:30
Saturday
18:30
Saturday
20:45
Saturday
21:00

Ackermann names 26-man touring squad for URC opening clashes

By Angus Opperman
Tuesday 22 Sep 2026
Curwin Bosch (Bullsrugby.co.za)

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has named a 26-man touring squad for their first two Vodacom United Rugby Championship clashes against Zebre and Munster, respectively.

ADVERTISEMENT

Springbok fullback Willie le Roux headlines the back three alongside Thaakir Abrahams and utility backs Cheswill Jooste, Sebastian De Klerk and Hakeem Kunene.

At flyhalf, Curwin Bosch steps into the set-up to steer the attack alongside Viaan Mentoor, while scrumhalves Paul de Wet, Zak Burger, and Keagan Johannes are named as the touring No.9s.

In the midfield, Stravino Jacobs is named alongside Harold Vorster, Stedman Gans, and Demetri Erasmus.

Up front, flanker Hanro Liebenberg joins a back-row contingent that includes Marcell Coetzee, Nizaam Carr, JJ Theron, and Jeandre Rudolph.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the second row, Ruan Vermaak, Jaco Grobbelaar, Reinhardt Ludwig, and JF van Heerden are named as the locks, while props Alu Tshakweni, Sti Sithole, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, and Khuta Mchunu pack down alongside hookers Juann Else, Jon Hobson, and Janco Uys.

*Also read: New-look Lions ready for URC as 60-man squad is confirmed

Bulls touring squad: Alu Tshakweni, Sti Sithole, Dylan Smith, Juann Else, Jon Hobson, Janco Uys, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Khuta Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, Jaco Grobbelaar, Reinhardt Ludwig, JF van Heerden, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Hanro Liebenberg, JJ Theron, Jeandre Rudolph, Nizaam Carr, Paul de Wet, Zak Burger, Keagan Johannes, Viaan Mentoor, Curwin Bosch, Sebastian De Klerk, Thaakir Abrahams, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Stedman Gans, Demetri Erasmus, Cheswill Jooste, Willie Le Roux, Hakeem Kunene.

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow your favourites in the RugbyPass App

Your home for rugby. Download the RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!


Follow your favourite teams, tournaments and players, and get personalised news and Match Centre notifications direct to your device.


From live rugby streams and upcoming fixtures to breaking news, in-depth analysis and live scores, RugbyPass has everything you need to stay connected to the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

1
The Chosen: The ultimate Green and Gold club
2
Battle of the Breakdown: Why All Blacks' tactics were 'illegal'
3
Test of depth: Will this be Rassie's Bok side to face Australia?

Join free

KOKO Show | BEST BOKS EVER?! Wallabies Plot Their Springbok Upset | Sep 15

How the Boks Stay a Step Ahead of the All Blacks | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 32

Japan v USA | Pacific Nations Cup 2026 | Match Highlights

Fiji vs Canada | Pacific Nations Cup 2026 | Match Highlights

France v New Zealand | WXV Global Series 2026 | Round 1 | Match Highlights

Spain v Fiji | WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Scotland v Canada | WXV Global Series 2026 | Match Highlights

Netherlands v Samoa | WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 | Match Highlights

Recommended

Australia

Wallabies suffer blow ahead of Bok clash as luckless star sent in for surgery

50min
14
Australia

Three reasons why Wallabies Test is important for Boks

15h
45
Latest News

New-look Lions ready for URC as 60-man squad is confirmed

15h
36
Countries

Battle of the Breakdown: Why All Blacks' tactics were 'illegal'

17h
23

Write A Comment

Trending

1
The Chosen: The ultimate Green and Gold club
2
Battle of the Breakdown: Why All Blacks' tactics were 'illegal'
3
Test of depth: Will this be Rassie's Bok side to face Australia?