The Bulls squad travelling to Dublin for next Friday’s United Rugby Championship final against Leinster reflects the formidable blend of experience, youth, and versatility that has propelled Johan Ackermann’s side to the grand showpiece, with a distinct opportunity to upset the reigning champions.
At the structural core of the 32-man travelling squad is a heavy Springbok presence featuring 17 fully capped internationals. To illustrate their squad depth, the Pretoria-based franchise fielded 11 Boks in the starting lineup and a further five on the bench during their grueling semi-final triumph over the Glasgow Warriors.
The touring roster contains wily, battle-hardened campaigners in Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard, and Marcell Coetzee, alongside a core of world-class performers in their prime, including Kurt-Lee Arendse, Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden, and Elrigh Louw. Adding a dynamic, high-energy edge to the squad are rising stars Cameron Hanekom, Canan Moodie, and Cheswill Jooste, whose attacking threat provides genuine X-factor out wide.
Up front, the forward pack offers a balanced combination of raw physicality and mobility. Louw and Van Staden provide an immense work rate and a relentless breakdown presence, while lock pairing Ruan Nortje and Cobus Wiese possess the sheer size and power required to anchor the set-piece in Dublin. The front row, in particular, stands out for its profound depth, ensuring scrummaging stability and allowing Ackermann to maintain set-piece intensity throughout the entire 80 minutes.
In the backline, Pollard’s authoritative game management and precise tactical kicking are complemented perfectly by Le Roux’s vision and modern playmaking ability. Out wide, strike runners Arendse, Moodie, and Jooste offer elite pace and clinical finishing quality.
Furthermore, the inclusion of several utility players capable of covering multiple positions — such as Le Roux, Moodie, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Nizaam Carr — gives Ackermann invaluable tactical flexibility when constructing his match-day 23.
Overall, the squad is exceptionally well-rounded, anchored by a strong leadership spine and supported by a bench capable of making a telling impact. It is a group built not only on individual brilliance but on tactical cohesion and adaptability — qualities that will prove absolutely non-negotiable in a major European final.
This Bulls squad possesses all the necessary ingredients to rattle Leinster on home soil and bring the URC trophy back to Loftus Versfeld. The team departs for Ireland on Monday evening.
Bulls squad for URC final
Alulutho Tshakweni, Akker van der Merwe, Cameron Hanekom, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Cobus Wiese, Devon Williams, Elrigh Louw, Embrose Papier, Francois Klopper, Gerhard Steenekamp, Handre Pollard, Harold Vorster, Johan Grobbelaar, Jeandre Rudolph, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Keagan Johannes, Katlego Letebele, Marcell Coetzee, Mpilo Gumede, Mornay Smith, Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Stedman Gans, Stravino Jacobs, Willie le Roux, Wilco Louw, Zak Burger.
