Bok-laden Bulls go full throttle at Boland in preparation for Sharks
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: The Bulls will travel to the Western Cape with no fewer than a dozen Springboks for their friendly fixture against Boland on Friday.
It takes place a week before their vital United Rugby Championship fixture against the Sharks and is designed to sharpen them up after several weeks off. They last played the Lions on January 31.
The Bulls have named 34 players for the encounter, comprising two groups that will play two sessions of 50 and 40 minutes, respectively.
The plan is to give the wider group a solid hit-out without risking injuries before the big URC showdown.
Johan Ackermann’s troops have grown in leaps and bounds following a slow start to the season and will be hopeful to peak at the right time, starting with the Sharks’ visit to Pretoria.
Among the big names in action will be Ruan Nortje, Canan Moodie and Willie le Roux. However, Handre Pollard, Wilco Louw and Kurt-Lee Arendse are on mandatory Springbok rest.
Boland named a settled outfit which includes regular captain Thurlow Marsh and fellow leader Marlyn Williams.
There are also a couple of former Bulls in Hawies Fourie’s outfit in Chris Smit, Jade Stighling, Juan Mostert, and Dayan van der Westhuizen.
The fixture is a test of depth for the Cavaliers, who lost many players who were on loan in the 2025 Currie Cup, such as BlitzBoks David Brits and Donoven Don.
Boland is also preparing for the SA Cup, which kicks off on March 7, to qualify for the 2026 edition of the Currie Cup following an outstanding 2025 campaign where they surprised friend and foe.
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Alulutho Tshakweni, 17 Juann Else, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Reinhardt Ludwig, 23 Nizaam Carr, 24 Zak Burger, 25 Wilie le Roux,26 Paul de Wet, 27 Jan Serfontein, 28 Canan Moodie, 29 Cheswill Jooste, 30 David Kriel, 31 Sti Sithole, 32 Kutha Mchunu, 33 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 34 Ruben Groenewald
Boland: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Riaan Louw, 13 Xavier Mitchell, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh, 7 Kwana Dimaza, 6 Sauleigh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Dewald Maritz
Replacements: 16 Mthokosizi Gumede, 17 Joshua Eras, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Micheal Mutombo, 20 Micheal Benadie, 21 Taine Booysen, 22 Khwezi Mafu, 23 Keenan Opperman, 24 Chriswill September/ Bentley Geldenhuys, 25 Thurlon Williams, 26 Cornell Engelbrecht, 27 Jurick Lewis, 28 Erik Lamprecht, 29 Duren Hoffman, 30 Jayden Bantom
Date: Friday, February 20
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 17.30 SAST (15.30 GMT)
Referee: TBC
Assistant referees: TBC
TMO: TBC
Players unavailable for Bulls: Sintu Manjezi, Cameron Hanekom, Gerhard Steenekamp, Elrigh Louw, Akker vd Merwe, Nama Xaba, Handre Pollard, Wilco Louw, Kurt-Lee Arendse.
