So, imagine the Hollywoodbets Sharks bosses listened to the social media vultures and sacked their coach. Imagine that you are a top rugby coach and you get phoned today by the Hollywoodbets Sharks CEO and sounded out about your availability for the head coaching role at the Durban union, and how the conversation might go.

It you know your oats, and want to do due diligence over what you are signing up for, the conversation might go like this:

Sharks CEO: We have earmarked you as the perfect candidate to take over the Sharks head coaching role. Would you be interested?

You: Okay, that’s great. It would be an honour. I’ve always wanted a challenge like this. So when would I start?

Sharks CEO: The current coach will coach the team for this Saturday’s game against the Scarlets, and then you will take over as soon as possible after that.

You: And when is the next game?

Sharks CEO: The next game is at the end of November, against Connacht in Galway.

You: Oh cool, so there’s over a month before the next game. That can work, I will have a month to work with my players and introduce them to my ideas, start to establish a playing pattern and work on things like attacking shape.

Sharks CEO: Yes, but remember that a lot of the players will be away with the Springboks in that month, basically the core of the team. So you won’t be working with them until after their tour.

You: But the end of November is outside of the international window, so at least I will have the Boks back for that Connacht game?

Sharks CEO: No, unfortunately that wouldn’t be the case as this is South Africa and we don’t pay too much attention to World Rugby’s Regulation 9. The Boks will be playing against Wales that weekend so none of the Boks will be available and even if they were, they would just have come off a tough five-week tour and their appetite for staying another week to play a URC game would be questionable.

You: Okay, so I suppose we could go into that Connacht game with the rank-and-file players who aren’t Boks, and then get the big guns back the next week. Who are the Sharks playing that next week? A week would be a short time for preparation, and I hear you about them being tired after a long tour, but maybe we can work something out.

Sharks CEO: The next game is an Investec Champions Cup game against Toulouse. In Toulouse.

You: What, are you being serious?

Sharks CEO: Yes.

You: Okay, playing Toulouse in Toulouse is a huge challenge, so I must have all hands on deck. Meaning the top Boks must play or we’d have no chance of winning. I know it’s a week after the end of their Bok tour, and they will be fatigued, but would we be able to prevail on them to play in that game?

Sharks CEO: We could do that, but it might compromise our chances of winning our home Champions Cup game against Saracens the following week. Even with all our Boks beating Toulouse in Toulouse would be a major upset. So Saracens is the game we have to win. We play Toulouse on Sunday, 7 December, whereas Saracens play earlier in the weekend. If we play on Sunday, we will only be back in Durban on Tuesday or Wednesday. Saracens would actually be in Durban a day or two before we would be. We would be seriously compromised so the logistical challenge will dictate that we play that first game in the Champions Cup under-strength.

You: So we will be up against Toulouse in Toulouse with an under-strength team? We will be well beaten, and in just my second game in charge, following a tough game away against Connacht. Connacht are good this year so there’s a good chance I’d be none from two at the start of my Sharks coaching career. I suppose the public and media will understand the Toulouse game was played under-strength and cut me some slack?

Sharks CEO: Perhaps, but from past experience you will not only get criticised by the local media and public, you will also be taken on by the overseas media who will accuse you of disrespecting the Champions Cup. When the Sharks play, regardless of who you select, the supporters see that team as the Sharks. We can't publicly denigrate any competition we play in by admitting we are not going all out to win each game, even if it is obvious to anyone who knows their rugby that is not the case, and you will be obliged to speak a lot of nonsense to the media in the buildup. In the recent Currie Cup we went in with a developing team but after a 64-0 loss to the Bulls that wasn’t the perspective that held in the outcry from our support base.

You: Hoo boy, it sounds like a tough gig and I will have to have the hide of a rhino to live with the flak. So there must be some light at the end of the tunnel after that. After those tough games and after the massive logistical challenge implicit in the buildup to what will also be a really difficult home game against a good Saracens team, I suppose it will get easier from there?

Sharks CEO: Oh…hum, well, it depends how you look at it. The next game, seven days after the one against Saracens, is a URC derby against the Bulls. That will be a must win game for us. Then comes the festive season derbies, and no South African player really wants to play in those games…

You: Okay boet, I have heard enough. I have a few overseas clubs my agent is talking to, and the top schools in this country pay enough money to coaches for them to live a comfortable life without the stress and public scrutiny that the job you are offering me would involve. What you are actually asking me to do is impossible. Good luck with finding your coach.

Mark Alexander, the President of SA Rugby, extended his heartfelt congratulations to SA Wheelchair Rugby (SAWCR) on their recent performance at a tournament in Norway.

SAWCR, an associate member of SA Rugby, were crowned European Division C champions at a tournament in Skien, Norway, held from 9 to 12 October, where they beat Ireland by 62-29 in the final to claim the gold media.

As a result, SAWCR – who was rezoned from the Asia-Oceania Conference to Europe Division C earlier this year – has been promoted to compete in Europe Division B in 2026, bringing them one step closer to Paralympic qualification.

“On behalf of SA Rugby, I would like to congratulate SA Wheelchair Rugby for their performances in Norway, we are very proud of them,” said Mr Alexander.

“They have made a remarkable comeback in 2025, showing strong performance and renewed ambition on the international stage, with the ultimate prize, participation in the Paralympic Games, edging closer.

“What makes their performances even more impressive, is that they only re-entered international competition structures after a decade-long absence. Winning in Norway is a big step in the right direction and we believe our team will soon enter the global top tier of wheelchair rugby sides.”

At just 21, Grant de Jager finds himself on the cusp of a lifelong dream, donning the green and gold in front of a home crowd at the HSBC SVNS in Cape Town.

The former FNB Maties standout, now a contracted Blitzbok, vividly recalls the moment that lit the fire inside him: watching South Africa claim bronze in Rio 2016.

“I told my mom that day, ‘I want to represent them at the Olympics,’” De Jager says.

New #Blitzboks signing Grant de Jager is loving every minute with the squad, and he hopes to make enough of an impression to feature at the @CapeTown7s in December - more here: https://t.co/mRr8Pwy7de 💪
Tickets from only R250: https://t.co/U0r7ZmQagZ 🎟#PoweredByUnity pic.twitter.com/zibns2lJMv

— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) October 13, 2025

Now, almost a decade later, he’s working tirelessly to earn his place in the squad for the prestigious tournament at DHL Stadium this December.

Hailing from Barberton in Mpumalanga, De Jager says what struck him most when joining the team was the culture of relentless effort, “The first thing I picked up was their willingness to work harder and harder. That’s something I’ve always prided myself on too, trying to outwork everyone else.”

Though humble about his current standing; “I’m not getting ahead of myself”; De Jager is learning fast in a squad full of veterans. “It’s a great opportunity to learn from guys like Ryan Oosthuizen and David Britz. Work rate won’t be the issue; I just want to make sure I do my job well.”

Having impressed at the Rugby Africa Sevens in Mauritius, where he helped the SA ‘A’ team to victory, De Jager is edging closer to fulfilling that boyhood dream.

And the thought of playing at home is a powerful motivator.

“I was in the stands last year when the Blitzboks won in Cape Town. I saw the joy on people’s faces, the pride. It would be such an honour to be on that field this time.”

Kwaru made history on Friday when they won the Premier Division Final of the inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship, beating Walker Bay Babes 17-14 (halftime 12-7) at Alberton Rugby Club south of Johannesburg to bring the curtain down on a watershed week for women’s rugby in South Africa.

To add to the significance of the occasion, SA Rugby President Mark Alexander was present as Betway’s head of sponsorship, Jason Shield, announced the inaugural Betway Dream Team, comprising the best players from the groundbreaking week-long event, which took place on the back of the Springbok Women’s quarterfinal finish at the recently held Rugby World Cup in England.

“Knowing there is a Betway Dream Team to aspire to will provide further incentive to all players in future,” said SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer. “The official recognition of being the best player in your position may be ceremonial this year, but together with our sponsors Betway, we are already thinking about how the Betway Dream Team can help fuel the growth of women’s rugby in an even more meaningful way in the coming years.”

In an all-coastal showpiece match that will go down in South African rugby history, it was Kwaru, the pride of Eastern Province, who ultimately prevailed against the four-time defending Boland champions after a pulsating match whose result hung in the balance until the very end.

Kwaru took an early 7-0 lead, Dream Team flyhalf Yandisa Nobanda going over after seven minutes for a try she converted herself. Walker Bay Babes responded midway through the first period, right wing Sinalo Ziqwayi diving over for centre Rufaro Tagarira to convert to bring the scores level.

Kwaru struck a major blow on the stroke of halftime, when replacement Hlomla Puzi barged over to give the Eastern Cape side a five-point lead at the break.

Walker Bay hit back shortly after the restart when scrumhalf Claudine Bani dived over under the posts for centre Rufaro Tagarira to convert to give the Babes a 14-12 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Kwaru, however, landed the coup de grace from the restart, centre Unathi Mali going over after 46 minutes for what proved to be the championship-winning score.

TITANS TRIUMPH

In the First Division Final, played as a curtain-raiser to the main match, Titans beat Potchefstroom Dorp 20-19 in a nail-biting match that went down to the wire.

“The inaugural Betway Women’s Club Championship will be long remembered as a landmark day in the history of women’s rugby in South Africa,” said Alexander. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Betway for their support, and for all the players, coaches and spectators who made the inaugural event so memorable.

“I would also like to thank everyone associated with Alberton Rugby Club for helping SA Rugby to host a tournament that will live long in the memory.”

The Betway Women’s Club Championship, which featured 16 participating clubs – one from each of the 15 provincial unions, plus one wildcard – played three days of rugby in a format similar to that of the FNB Craven Week. The teams were split into two divisions of eight, based on their respective provinces’ participation in the Women’s Premier & First Division provincial competitions.

The Betway WCC, like the Pick n Pay Gold Cup for men, excluded FNB Varsity Cup teams, but this year allowed the participation of teams from three tertiary institutions that did not participate in the Varsity Cup: Durban University of Technology (KZN), Sol Plaatje University (Griquas) and the University of Limpopo.

Betway Women’s Club Championship – Final Day Results

First Division:

University of Limpopo 63 (29), Kempton Park 17 (12)

University of Limpopo – Tries: Thabiso Mokomane, Mapula Matsimela (2), Maruping Modupi, Mokgaetsi Montle (3), Evelyn Mkhabele, Onkie Leseka (2), Zintle Mtana. Conversions: Mkhabele (4).

Kempton Park – Tries: Makhubela Gabaza, Bomikazi Poswa, Raliphada Jessica. Conversion: Neo Sekhu.

Sol Plaatje University 54 (35), Embalenhle 5 (5)

Sol Plaatje – Tries: Maserati Bangaza, Lerato Mudlovu, Doedoe Serame, Charlize Jacobs, Jenna van Nel, Donishea Cloete, Juanine Jacobs, Mulalo Sibasa. Conversions: Jacobs (7).

Embalenhle – Try: Mbali Mzizi.

Durban University of Technology 7 (0), Mqanduli Sharks 22 (10)

DUT – Try: Sethabile Xulu. Conversion: Xulu.

Mqanduli Sharks – Tries: Chuma Delubom, Emihle Mayitshe, Oratile Moshome, Zintle Holofela. Conversion: Siphenathi Yeko.

Titans 20 (7), Potchefstroom Dorp 19 (7)

Titans – Tries: Ruzanne George, Nosiphiwo Swartz. Conversions: Odean van Wyk, Chloe Adams. Penalties: Adams (2).

Potch Dorp – Tries: Teddy Gatyana, Abigail de Jager, Martha Yokwane. Conversions: De Jager (2).

Premier Division:

Welkom 7 (7), Raiders 32 (20)

Welkom – Try: Mmadjadji Mohalali. Conversion: Tshepiso Matelile.

Raiders – Tries: Sarah Mokwebo (3), Khanyisile Ntai (2), Evidence Tinoota. Conversion: Londeka Ntanzi.

Pirates 12 (7), Collegians 24 (17)

Pirates – Tries: Sinalo Honono, Sharon Baloyi. Conversion: Provia Mashiane.

Collegians – Tries: TJ Ngxowa, Vuyelwa Mosala, Kirileng Namane, Afika Mbengo. Conversions: Inge Sander (2).

Van der Stel-Evergreens 10 (0), Harlequins 10 (0)

VDE – Tries: Donelle Snyders, Raeeqah Hendricks.

Harlequins – Try: Uzubenam Mbangi. Conversion: Klarissa van der Linden. Penalty: Van der Linden.

Walker Bay Babes 14 (7), Kwaru 17 (12)

Walker Bay – Tries: Sinalo Ziqwayi, Claudine Bani. Conversions: Rufaro Tagarira (2).

Kwaru – Tries: Yandisa Nobanda, Hlomla Puzi, Unathi Mali. Conversions: Nobanda.

2025 Betway Women’s Club Championship Dream Team (1-23):

1. Hloma Puzi (Kwaru, Eastern Province)

2. Owethu Nayapi (Mqanduli Sharks, Border)

3. Mmadjadja Mohalali (Welkom, Griffons)

4. TJ Ngxowa (Collegians, Free State)

5. Rapha Madyah (Walker Babes, Boland)

6. Buthle Sonamzi (Walker Babes, Boland)

7. Martha Yokwane (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)

8. Teddy Gatyana (c) (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)

9. Chloe Adams (Titans Knysna, SWD)

10. Yandisa Nobanda (Kwaru, Eastern Province)

11. Khanyisele Ntai (Raiders, Golden Lions)

12. Mapula Matsimela (University of Limpopo, Limpopo)

13. Klarissa van der Linden (v/c) (Pretoria Harlequins, Blue Bulls)

14. Vuyelwa Mosala (Collegians Valkyries, Free State)

15. Inge Sander (Collegians Valkyries, Free State).

Replacements:

16. Maxene Valentine (Walker Babes, Boland)

17. Sharon Baloyi (Pirates, Golden Lions)

18. Yola Lumko (Walker Babes, Boland)

19. Emihle Mayitshe (Mqanduli Sharks, Border)

20. Bernice Strydom (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)

21. Onie Sihlobo (Potchefstroom Dorp, Leopards)

22. Kwanene Zungu (Durban University of Technology, Kwa-Zulu Natal)

23. Alichia Arries (Van der Stel-Evergreens, Western Province).

DHL Western Province delivered a masterclass in the final match of the SA Rugby U20 Women’s Week, outplaying the Blue Bulls 33-0 in a pulsating match at Queens High School in Johannesburg on Friday.

The match concluded a highly successful tournament, where the 14 participating teams delivered an encouraging display of the next generation of women’s rugby, while simultaneously offering several match officials valuable exposure and opportunities.

The final day belonged to a rampant Western Province. They have outplayed their opponents 134-8 in their three matches, scoring 20 tries and conceding only one.

Five of those 20 tries came against the Blue Bulls, who did not have an answer to the Cape side’s support play and individual brilliance, with a fast start by WP laying the foundation to a successful result.

The first try, scored by impressive No. 8, Logan Welman, showed the intent of the defending champions early on. Welman stepped past a couple of defenders, but the setup was as solid. A couple of good carries by the forwards created chaos in the Bulls’ defensive line, and Welman found space and pounced.

Flyhalf Anja le Roux added the conversion, and WP were on their way.

A second try followed soon after when rapid winger Saadiqah Corbett dived over in the corner, brilliantly converted by Le Roux, and the 14-0 lead was good value after 12 minutes of play.

Le Roux then scored a memorable try. From broken play, she sold the Bulls a delightful dummy 65 metres out and outsprinted all comers to dot down under the posts. She added the conversion as well, allowing WP to build up a 21-0 lead.

The Bulls took more than 20 minutes to get into the WP 25 metre areas, and pressed hard for their first points, but WP defended as well as they attacked and kept them out for a good five minutes until the break.

Welman opened the scoring in the second half with a try similar to her five-pointer in the first half. A couple of good hit-ups by the pack eliminated numbers on defence and Welman spotted the gap to score, with Le Roux converting for a 28-0 lead.

That was extended to 33 when replacement scrumhalf Nikicia Eksteen raced through the smallest of gaps to score within a minute of replacing Donëy Filies, confirming the dominance of the Cape side.

STRONG FINISH

Earlier KwaZulu-Natal finished their week on a strong note, with a 41-5 win over Griquas, who suffered their first defeat.

The Sharks played with too much pace for their opponents and scored four tries in the first half and added three more in the second half. Credit to Griquas, however, who never gave up, but found a team on the day that played the basics better and executed when it mattered.

Beaten finalists from last year, Border, had to work hard for their 33-14 win over the Golden Lions. They held a 19-14 lead at the break, but pulled away in the second half, with a penalty try at the death to add to the hosts' misery.

No less than 120 tries were scored in the 21 matches, with Eastern Province winger, Lithalethu Nombakuse, finishing as the leading try scorer with 10, eight of those scored against the Northern Invitational XV on Friday.

Eastern Province totally outplayed their opponents in the opening match of the day, winning 83-0, scoring 13 tries in the process. Nombakuse, who scored in all three matches, finished the tournament as the top scorer as well.

The Pumas also managed to keep the Valke scoreless in their match, with their 22-0 win securing a second win of the week. Not every match was a runaway, though, as Boland just outlasted SWD 10-3 and Free State edged the Limpopo Blue Bulls 12-5.

Boland scored the only tries of the match against SWD, while Free State’s brace came in the second half to cancel the 5-0 lead Limpopo held at the break.

SCORES

Eastern Province 83 (43), Northern Invitational 0 (0).

EP – Tries: Thabisile Mkhwebane, Milani Yakala, Lindokuhle Masilela, Yamkela Funani, Lithalethu Nombakuse (8), Zusakhe Tembani. Conversions: Micayle Hendricks (9).

Boland 14 (7), SWD 3 (3)

Boland - Tries: Shanezeré Beukman, Hayley Hardneck. Conversions: Hardneck, Courtney Jenniker.

SWD - Penalty goal: Ashley-Ann Williams

Pumas 22 (10), Valke 0 (0)

Pumas – Tries: DK Radebe, Megan Guambe (2), Sonia Khumalo. Conversion: Guambe.

KwaZulu Natal 41 (31), Griquas 5 (5)

KZN - Tries: Sphesihle Fihlela, Xoliswa Mbatha, Snethemba Mzimela (2), Nosipho Mkhize (2), Asanda Manyoni. Conversions: Melissa Younie (3).

GW - Try: Angel Jaar.

Border 26 (19), Golden Lions 7 (7)

Border - Tries: Sindisiwe Mbonja (2), Zeze Gcaza, Nasiphi Mbhangula. Conversions: Amzolele Gqola (3).

Lions - Try: Salizwa Tyali. Conversion: Kayleigh du Toit

Free State 12 (0), Limpopo Blue Bulls 5 (5)

FS - Tries: Sebabatso Mochudi, Joy Ahaotu. Conversion: Lizelle Mitchell.

LBB - Try: Amaka Mabosi

DHL Western Province 33 (21), Blue Bulls 0 (0)

WP - Tries: Logan Welman (2), Saadiqah Corbett, Anja le Roux, Nikicia Eksteen. Conversions: Anja le Roux (4).

The quarterfinalists in the Pick n Pay Gold Cup have been confirmed after a tense Round of 16 weekend in which all eight home sides in the ‘FA Cup’ of South African rugby made it through to the last eight.

This year’s tournament, which signals a bold new era for club rugby on the back of significant growth in the community game, is also supported by Northam Platinum, whose commitment to community aligns with the grassroots spirit of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup.

Pick n Pay’s title partnership with the Gold Cup is part of a four-year agreement that includes becoming Tier-1 sponsors of the four-time world champion and now back-to-back Castle Lager Rugby Championship-winning Springboks.

In the North section, defending champions Naka Bulls are just three victories away from what would be an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ of national titles, after hat-tricks by left wing JJ Motlhodi and scrumhalf Jack Hart saw the Pretoria side sweep aside visitors Louis Trichardt by 88-19.

DARK HORSES

Naka Bulls will face Northam Wolves in the first quarterfinal, after the platinum miners emerged as a tournament dark horse by beating Raiders of Johannesburg by 53-30 in a match which saw wing Marcel Human score three tries – the first in the opening minute and the hat-trick score in the 77th – and kick three conversions for a personal haul of 21 points.

Northam’s other team, Rhinos, the 2024 runners-up, had to come from behind to beat a gallant Centurion 31-19, with the match in the balance right until the end, when Rhinos wing Elzandro Fredericks scored in stoppage time to seal the win.

Rhinos will play Harlequins of Pretoria in the second quarterfinal after Quins beat Vereeniging by 34-22 in a seven-try see-saw battle ultimately decided by a second try for centre Dieter Crafford and 14 points from the boot of flyhalf Jaen-dré de Bruyn.

In the South half of the draw, two mouthwatering quarter-finals are set for the Western Cape.

Western Province champions Villagers, who are looking for their first national title since 1980, beat arch-rivals Hamilton for the fourth time in 2025 to secure their place in the last eight.

The country’s oldest club derby didn’t disappoint, with the Claremont side having to reel in a half-time deficit to prevail 27-14 over their Sea Point opponents, who were looking to cap their 150th anniversary season with a second national title.

Villagers will host Gardens in the third quarterfinal, after the Nelson Mandela Bay-based side held on for a tense 29-25 win over Kruisfontein United in the big Eastern Cape derby, played at the Central Ground in Kariega.

SEVEN-TRY THRILLER

The capacity crowd were treated to a seven-try thriller, in which the home side appeared well on their way to securing a home last-eight tie when a 74th-minute try by super-sub Claude Jantjies took Gardens to within a penalty of overtaking Villagers’ 12-point winning differential against Hamilton.

But Kruisfontein had other ideas, wing Breyton Wentzel diving over in the 79th minute to ensure a tense final minute in which Gardens had to hang on by their fingernails for a famous win.

The fourth quarterfinal will see KZN champions College Rovers fly to the Cape Winelands to play Boland champions Robertson, after the Durbanites secured a hard-fought win over their rivals from across the Umgeni River, Crusaders, by 19-3.

Robertson, who, like Northam Wolves, look to be peaking at just the right time, overcame their great rivals from 50km up the R60, Villagers Worcester, 52-33 in a 13-try affair that was only decided in the dying minutes.

The full house at the Van Zyl Sports Grounds got their money’s worth, with Worcester fullback Elton Mfundisi’s 74th-minute try cutting the home side’s lead to just five points to set up a nerve-wracking end to a rollercoaster match.

But it was Robertson who ultimately prevailed, centre Jennewil April’s score from the restart and his second touchdown in stoppage time finally putting daylight between the sides.

“We’ve now reached the business end of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup and it was clear to see the step up in intensity,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer.

“The last eight teams standing will now know that anything can happen in a knockout tournament and that they are within touching distance of lifting the Cup.

“I would once again like to thank Pick n Pay and Northam Platinum for making the Gold Cup possible, thus allowing our best amateur and semi-professional players the chance to display their talents on a national stage.

“In 2017, Grant Williams was playing in the Gold Cup for College Rovers and on Saturday, he was in London, lifting the Rugby Championship trophy with the Springboks.

“The Gold Cup has the potential to provide the next Grant Williams with an alternative route to professional and even international rugby, and with Pick n Pay and Northam Platinum on board, I have no doubt this will happen sooner rather than later.”

This weekend’s quarterfinal venues and kick-off times will be confirmed in due course.

Pick n Pay Gold Cup Round of 16 Results – Saturday 4 October:

North section:

Naka Bulls 88-19 Louis Trichardt

Northam Wolves 53-30 Raiders

Northam Rhinos 31-19 Centurion

Pretoria Harlequins 34-22 Vereeniging

South section:

College Rovers 19-3 Crusaders

Robertson 52-33 Villagers Worcester

Villager 27-14 Hamilton

Quarterfinal places in the Pick n Pay Gold Cup will be on the line this Saturday when the ‘FA Cup’ of South African rugby enters the Round of 16 stage, with a number of mouth-watering local derbies on the cards across South Africa.

This year’s tournament, which signals a bold new era for club rugby on the back of significant growth in the community game, is also supported by Northam Platinum, whose commitment to community aligns with the grassroots spirit of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup.

The build-up to the opening matches of the country’s knockout championship for non-university clubs gets underway on Saturday morning already, with the second stop of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup Trophy Tour taking place at Pick n Pay Kariega, in the Eastern Cape.

From 8am to 12pm on Saturday, fans are invited to visit the store at the Penford Shopping Centre in Graaff Reinet Road, Kariega, for Pick n Pay Gold Cup match-day specials and to take their picture with the iconic Gold Cup trophy.

The trophy tour forms part of Pick n Pay’s partnership with the Gold Cup, as part of a four-year agreement that includes becoming Tier-1 sponsors of the four-time world champion Springboks.

The Gold Cup trophy will also be on display later on Saturday afternoon at the iconic Central Ground in Kariega, where Eastern Province’s two best clubs, Gardens and Kruisfontein United of Humansdorp, will clash in front of a capacity crowd.

The Battle of Kariega is just one of eight Round of 16 matches taking place across the length and breadth of the country, as the remaining clubs look to take one step closer to securing their place in what will be a first-ever North v South Grand Final on 25 October.

With the field now halved, and with six current or former champions still in the hunt, this coming weekend promises even more drama, with the knockout draw producing a number of mouthwatering derbies to look forward to.

The 2025 Pick n Pay Gold Cup is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of club rugby in South Africa, and all eyes will be on Brookside in Claremont, Cape Town on Saturday, when the country’s two oldest clubs continue their age-old rivalry.

Hamilton, the 2009 national club champions and the club that produced the first-ever Springbok, will travel to Villager, which is one of the oldest derbies in world rugby.

Villager, SA’s second-oldest non-university club who celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2026, beat Hammies just two weeks ago to lift the Western Province Grand Challenge Cup for the first time in 25 years.

The southern suburbs side are the favourites going into the match, having beaten their Sea Point arch-rivals three times already this year, with the winner of this match playing the winner of the Gardens v Kruisfontein match in the quarterfinals.

In the other two Round of 16 matches in the southern half of the draw, KZN champions College Rovers host their neighbours from across the Umgeni River, Northwood Crusaders, in a Durban derby set to kick off ahead of the Springboks’ Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider against Argentina in London.

For Rovers fans, both matches are equally significant: Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams played for the club in 2017 before being signed by the Hollywoodbets Sharks – a reminder for all club players that the Pick n Pay Gold Cup can be a pivotal platform for unheralded players to showcase their talents.

“Grant is a great example of how club rugby can still play a role in ensuring there is another chance for anyone who might have slipped through the net,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer.

“If it weren’t for club rugby, who knows if he would even be running out against the Pumas on Saturday?

“We are well and truly entering another golden age of club rugby, where the standard at the performance end of the community game has never been better. Thanks to the support of Pick n Pay and Northam Platinum, we are confident that club rugby will play an even greater role in the years to come.”

The winners of the Rovers-Crusaders match will book a quarterfinal tie against the winners of the big Cape Winelands derby between Robertson, the reigning Boland champions, and Villagers Worcester.

The Van Zyl Sports Grounds will once again be packed to the rafters as ‘Villa’, as they are affectionately known, and their thousands of supporters travel the 50km down the R60 for one of the biggest club derbies in South African rugby.

In the North section, two-time defending champions Naka Bulls and 2024 runners-up Northam Rhinos will take one step closer to resuming their on-field rivalry of recent years, when they host Louis Trichardt and Centurion respectively for places in the last eight.

The champions will run out as favourites against the team from Limpopo and should they win at home in Pretoria, they will play the winners of the match between Northam Wolves and Centurion, while the winner of Rhinos and Centurion will await the outcome of the final Round 16 match of the day, between Pretoria Harlequins and Vereeniging, to see who they will face in the quarterfinals.

Pick n Pay Gold Cup Round of 16 Fixtures – Saturday 4 October:

North section:

1pm: Naka Bulls v Louis Trichardt (Naka Bulls Rugby Club, Pretoria)

3:30pm: Northam Wolves v Raiders (Millstream River Estate, Hartbeespoort)

4pm: Northam Rhinos v Centurion (Setaria Recreation Club, Setaria)

5pm: Pretoria Harlequins v Vereeniging (Harlequins Rugby Club, Pretoria)

South section:

1pm: College Rovers v Northwood Crusaders (KP2, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

1pm: Villager v Hamilton (Brookside, Cape Town)

3pm: Gardens v Kruisfontein (Central Ground, Kariega)

4pm: Robertson v Villagers Worcester (Van Zyl Street Sports Grounds, Robertson)

Defending champions Naka Bulls will begin their quest to win an unprecedented third straight Pick n Pay Gold Cup title when the “FA Cup” of South African club rugby kicks off this weekend at 16 venues across the country.

This year’s tournament – which signals a bold new era for club rugby on the back of significant growth in the community game – is also supported by Northam Platinum, whose commitment to community aligns with the grassroots spirit of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup.

The build-up to the opening matches of the country’s knockout championship for non-university clubs gets underway on Saturday morning already, with the first stop of a Gold Cup Trophy Tour taking place at Pick n Pay Robertson, in the Western Cape.

Fans are invited to visit the store from 08h00 for Pick n Pay Gold Cup match-day specials and to take their picture with the iconic golden trophy. The trophy tour forms part of Pick n Pay’s partnership with the Gold Cup, as part of a four-year agreement that includes becoming Tier-1 sponsors of the four-time world champion Springboks.

The Gold Cup trophy will also be on display later on Saturday afternoon at the Van Zyl Sports Grounds in the picturesque town, where the reigning Boland champions, Robertson, run out against Kimberley.

The 2025 Pick n Pay Gold Cup will also celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of club rugby in South Africa with the inclusion of 2009 national champions, Cape Town-based Hamilton, founded in 1875 and the club responsible for producing the first-ever Springbok.

This year’s tournament also marks another historic milestone: the 50th anniversary of the inaugural national club championship, when FNB Maties beat Durban Collegians in the 1975 final.

No fewer than seven current or former champions will be among the 32-strong field this year, including Villager, who last weekend won the Western Province Grand Challenge Cup for the first time in 25 years.

The Claremont-based club, who turn 150 next year, will be looking for their first national title in almost half a century, when former Springbok captain and 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning team manager, Morné du Plessis, lifted the trophy in 1980.

Two-time defending champions Naka Bulls (2023 & 2024) will also face strong challenges from the likes of fellow Bulls club Pretoria Harlequins (1992 national champions), Durban powerhouses Crusaders (1993 & 1994) and College Rovers (2010 & 2012), and Johannesburg’s oldest club, Pirates (2001) who will all be looking to add another star to their famous jerseys.

The 32 teams are divided geographically into northern and southern sections of 16 sides each, with the last team standing from each section contesting the grand final on 25 October.

“A love of knockout rugby is an integral part of who we are as a rugby nation and I’m sure that do-or-die spirit will infuse the 16 matches taking place this weekend with an intensity on the field and an atmosphere of festivity in the stands,” said SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer.

“There are no second chances in Cup rugby but as our four Rugby World Cup titles proves, no one does knockouts quite like South Africans. We are a proud and resilient nation and are best when we have our backs to the wall and people from different backgrounds all pull in the same direction, knowing their destinies and legacies are intertwined.

“This golden thread of success runs all the way from the Springboks right down to community rugby, which is why Pick n Pay are the ideal naming-rights sponsors at this exciting juncture in our rugby history.”

Naka Bulls will need to be at their very best when they host tournament wildcard Safcol United of Boland in the nation’s capital on Saturday afternoon, with 15 other matches set to take place across the length and breadth of the land as clubs look to advance one step closer to the Final showdown.

Get all the latest updates, fixtures, results and more – follow the Pick n Pay Gold Cup on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.

Pick n Pay Gold Cup – Round of 32 fixtures:

North section:

Saturday 27 September

Naka Bulls v Safcol United (Naka Bulls Rugby Club, Pretoria, 3pm)

Northam Rhinos v Welkom Rovers (Setaria Recreation Club, Setaria, 3pm)

Pretoria Harlequins v Nelspruit (Harlequins Rugby Club, Pretoria, 3pm)

Raiders v Brakpan (Bill Jardine Stadium, Johannesburg, 4pm)

Northam Wolves v Sibanye (Millstream River Estate, 3:30pm)

Vereeniging v Pirates (Vereeniging Rugby Club, 4pm)

White River v Centurion (White River Rugby Club, 3:30pm)

Welkom Club v Louis Trichardt (Griffons Rugby Stadium B Field, Welkom, 3pm)

South section:

Saturday 27 September

Villager v Swallows (Brookside, Cape Town, 3pm)

Groot Brakrivier v Gardens (House of Pain, Great Brak River, 3:30pm)

Robertson v Kimberley (Van Zyl Street Sports Grounds, Robertson, 3:30pm)

Sishen v Villagers Worcester (Sivos Sports Grounds, Kathu, 3:30pm)

Kruisfontein Utd v Heidelberg (Kruisfontein Sports Complex, Humansdorp, 3:30pm)

East London Police v Hamilton (Police Park, East London, 3pm)

Bloemfontein Police v Durban Crusaders (Fichardt Park High School, Bloemfontein, 3pm)

Sunday 28 September

College Rovers v Bloemfontein Collegians (Kings Park 3, Durban, 12pm)

The big question that hovers over the Hollywoodbets Sharks at the start of each season tends to focus on how the franchise’s many Springboks will deal with the arduous and attritional nature of the 12 month South African season, but this might be a time where Rassie Erasmus is helping the Durbanites.

Whereas in previous seasons there might just have been some question marks over whether all the Sharks Boks were running on full throttle and even fully committed given that they effectively owned their positions in the national team, the Bok coach has changed all of that. If there is one thing that has emerged crystal clear from the international season so far is that Erasmus, with his rotational selection policy, will have put a fire cracker under some of his players.

Suddenly it appears that everyone, even players who have been playing for the Sharks for years, are under pressure to produce as Erasmus sifts through his options, meaning who will beat off the attentions of Father Time, ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Having to prove their form and play for places could provide the extra edge to the motivation that Plumtree will be looking for from his players as he seeks a continuation of the sharp upward trend in the team’s performance graph last season. The Sharks still took flak from some critics at stages of the 2024/2025 campaign, so some may raise their eyebrows at any suggestion of an improvement, but it is a fact - the Sharks went from second last in 2024 to third in the most recently completed season.

HAVING TOO MANY BOKS HAS BEEN COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE

That is more like where the Sharks belong if you look at the international players on their books, although what would have quickly become apparent to the Sharks is that having too many Boks in the squad can be counter-productive. That is because of the 12 month, year round demand on the players, and the need to take sporadic resting periods off as per the Bok protocols, usually in February and March.

There is also the wear and tear that becomes an obstacle for players who are still playing top level club rugby at a time of year when their southern hemisphere rivals from New Zealand and Australia are putting their feet up over the summer. Already the Sharks have injury problems, several of them, and one top class international player, Aphelele Fassi, has been ruled out for at least six months because of the injury he sustained against the All Blacks in Wellington.

“I am not sure of the full nature of it but it was a serious injury and it will necessitate surgery so he will be out for at least six months,” said Plumtree.

That will mean the Sharks won’t see their star fullback until January, and Plumtree has let it be known that while the likes of Yaw Penxe can do a good stop gap job there, and Jordan Hendrikse too when he recovers from his own injury, the Sharks are on the look out for a player who can double as a wing or fullback. It wasn’t surprising to learn from weekend reports that Quan Horn, the excellent Emirates Lions No 15, may be on the Sharks’ radar.

DON’T FORGET MAPIMPI AND HIS DRIVE TO DO WELL

The Sharks do have depth at wing, for we should not forget about Makazole Mapimpi, the 2019 Bok World Cup winner and first try scorer for South Africa in a RWC final, who in an interview with Kickoff Magazine last month made it clear that he was desperate to taste success with the Sharks as he heads into the latter part of his career. He is contracted until 2027, and knows that if he is still playing well when that year arrives, he could still get to experience a third World Cup - although that is not his focus.

Mapimpi has been joined in the Sharks’ wing stocks by former Lions Bok speedster Edwill van der Merwe, who looked likely to become a fixture in Erasmus’ plans before he was injured in the opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship game against Australia. He is an example of a Bok player playing for a place, and that should suit Plumtree fine.

There was some promising wing talent coming through for the Sharks XV in the Carling Currie Cup season, while the Sharks have acquired the services of Blitzbok star Christie Grobbelaar.

“He is a bit raw still but he is a very committed and aggressive player and in terms of work rate he reminds me of (another Blitzbok star who played wing for the Sharks) Werner Kok,” said the coach.

FAMILIARITY WITH COACH MEANT FEWER ACQUISITIONS

This will be Plumtree’s third season in charge of the Sharks and while last year there were quite a few acquisitions, headlined by Andre Esterhuizen, who played a big role for the Sharks in his first season back from Harlequins, Jason Jenkins and Trevor Nyakane, but when it comes to star quality the only big arrival is Van der Merwe.

While that may suggest the Sharks could struggle in the stages of the season when the Boks are away on international duty, with the first two games set to coincide with the final rounds of the Rugby Championship, Plumtree takes an alternative view of it in explaining why the cheque book wasn’t used too liberally during the off-season.

“I’ve been here two seasons now so the players will have become more used to me and what I want from them and me of them,” he says.

“We are focusing on improvement of players, not just about getting players in from outside to fill positions we feel need filling. If you can get players to be improve and become better players, get them understanding how you want to play, make them fitter, make them become better athletes, then your team should be more effective and competitive.”

EARLY INJURIES POSE OBSTACLE

Indeed, but there’s always the curve ball of injuries given the length of the season, and Plumtree faces three tough tour games, starting with Glasgow Warriors on Friday and finishing with Leinster in Dublin two weeks later, at a time when he may have to juggle a bit with his selections to fill holes.

“The forwards I am happy with, it is the backline that is mostly affected by injuries. Siya (Masuku) and Jordan (Hendrikse) are two players who will miss the early games and they are crucial for us as playmakers. But we have Jurenzo Julius ready to play, and we were lucky enough to acquire Ross Braude from the Pumas.”
The Sharks have already been unlucky when it comes to injuries in the second row, with Corne Rahl going down during the Currie Cup season while Emile van Heerden suffered a long term shoulder injury when the Sharks played their final Currie Cup game against the Pumas as a warmup to the URC. Then Jason Jenkins went down during the past week, making it fortuitous that Marvin Orie, a Bok in the last World Cup year and a URC winner with the Stormers in 2022, had joined on a one year contract.

JADEN’S VERSATILITY MIGHT COME IN HANDY

It is understood that Jaden Hendrikse, who has played all his international rugby at scrumhalf, may be the man to line up at pivot while the other specialist No 10s are absent, and the Sharks’ chances of getting something out of the tour may depend on how he goes.

Lukhanyo Am is back from his injury and should be eager to get in some early good games before Esterhuizen and the excellent Ethan Hooker, who of course can also play wing, return from duty with the Boks.

Siya Kolisi was the Sharks’ MVP last year in terms of his work-rate and statistics when he did play, but as with the other Boks, his contribution might be determined by what his international duties take out of him.

The Sharks play their first home game against Ulster and that is when the Boks should be back in tow, in the fourth round of the competition, but Plumtree is ready to ask Boks who play in the final Championship game against Argentina in London to stay on for the Leinster game a week later if they are fresh enough to do so. Of course, that is the perennial million dollar question with the Sharks, how much the Boks can be committed to, but Plumtree should at least be smiling at the way Erasmus is mixing up his selections and in doing so making established internationals uncomfortable.

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS 2025/2026 VODACOM URC FIXTURES

Glasgow Warriors (Glasgow, Friday 26 September, 21.05)

Dragons (Newport, Friday 3 October, 21.05)

Leinster (Dublin, Saturday 11 October, 17.30)

Home games before international break in November

Ulster (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 18 October, 16.00)

Scarlets (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 25 October, 16.00)

Connacht (Galway, Friday 29 November, 21.45)

Vodacom Bulls (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 20 December, 18.00)

Emirates Lions (Johannesburg, Friday 26 December, Time to be confirmed)

Emirates Lions (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 3 January 2026, 15.30)

DHL Stormers (Cape Town, Saturday 24 January, 19.30)

DHL Stormers (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 31 January, 17.00)

Vodacom Bulls (Pretoria, Saturday 28 February, 17.00)

Munster (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 21 March, 17.00)

Cardiff Rugby (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Friday 27 March, 19.00)

Ospreys (Swansea, Saturday 18 April, 20.45)

Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Friday 24 April, 20.45)

Benetton (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 9 May, 16.00)

Zebre (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 16 May, 13.45)

Investec Champions Cup Pool fixtures

Toulouse (Toulouse, Sunday 7 December, 17.15)

Saracens (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 13 December, 17.15)

Sale Sharks (Sale, Saturday 10 January 2026, 19.30)

Clermont-Auvergne (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Saturday 17 January, 15.00)

South Africa’s premier international age-group tournament, the annual Under-18 International Series, once again proved to be an invaluable platform for the country's top schoolboy young talent, with Junior Springbok coach coach Kevin Foote saying it’s crucial in developing future stars and highlighting the importance of preparing the players for the rigors of professional rugby.

Featuring two national sides, the SA Under-18 and SA Under-18 ‘A’ teams, pitted against international opposition – this year France, England, Ireland and Georgia sent teams – the Series provides a unique opportunity for players to test their skills against players from abroad.

Foote said the series, staged annually in August, serves as a crucial link in SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) programme, acting as a feeder system for the Junior Boks.

Like it did in previous seasons, this year’s series – which was hosted at the school grounds of Durbanville, Boland Landbou and Paarl Gimnasium – again underscored its value in exposing South Africa’s most promising players to a higher level of competition and forging the next generation of Junior Bok stalwarts.

The 2025 edition was especially successful for the SA Under-18s, who won all three of their matches, against France, Ireland, and England, by comfortable margins. They kicked off the Series with a 43-21 win over the French in a match that saw both teams compete for the Mehdi Narjissi Trophy in memory of the French player who tragically went missing off the coast at Cape Point last year.

In their second outing, they defeated Ireland by 45-5 before finishing the series on a high by dispatching England 69-24 in the final round. They scored a combined total of 157 points in their three outings for an average of 52.3 points per match, managing a series-high total of 23 tries in the process.

Meanwhile, the SA Under-18 ‘A’ side lost a cliffhanger opening game by three points, 39-36, to Ireland. They bounced back to comprehensively outplay Georgia 57-19, but went down 40-14 to France in their final encounter.

Foote and members of his SA Under-20 coaching staff played an active role, mentoring the SA Under-18 coaches during the preparation of their two teams. The Junior Bok coach was therefore understandably pleased with the efforts of the local teams, praising the contribution of the coaches, and speaking with admiration for the well-established SA schoolboy rugby system.

“I’m super proud of both teams’ performances throughout the series,” said Foote.

“I thought they did well, and I must credit the coaches, whom I thought prepared them well.

“The schools who hosted the three rounds also deserve a lot of credit for their fantastic efforts and hard work for staging the successful match days. The matches were well attended, and the energy from the crowd was electric.

“The schoolboy rugby system in South Africa is amazing. Every school's coach and headmaster; everyone involved in the development of those players, deserves a huge amount of credit. Well done to our coaches, Lwazi Zangqa, Flash Malinga, Clinton van Rensburg and Cobus van Dyk, on doing a great coaching job. And also Louis Koen, who did so well in putting this programme together.”

Foote reckons the prestigious Under-18 International Series – now in its 14th year since the inaugural event in George – plays a vital role in the preparation of these two groups of players as future Junior Springboks.

“There is, of course, a massive benefit to staging those games for our boys as it gives them the opportunity to play together at a higher level,” he said.

“Players like Ethan Adams and Markus Muller, for instance, played together and developed a partnership; and that goes for all combinations of both our teams.

“This series gave them the chance to play international rugby, and exposing them, and the coaches, to gain international experience, which is vital for their future development.”

Foote also expressed gratitude to the international teams who travel to South Africa on a regular basis to compete against the best local schoolboy talent.

With the U18 series providing young players on the cusp of their post-school careers with valuable game time at a high level as they prepare for rugby at senior level, the Junior Bok mentor was also very happy to see so many current SA Under-20s feature in the Carling Currie Cup.

“I spoke with Johan Ackermann (Vodacom Bulls head coach and who was a coaching consultant for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Italy) recently, and we agreed how awesome it is for our Junior Boks to get playing opportunities in the Carling Currie Cup,” said Foote.

“Hopefully, some of them will be able to put up their hands for selection in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship or the European competition.

“I thought it was brave of the provincial coaches to give them the opportunity to play in the Carling Currie Cup, and it’s nice to see some of them doing well. I am extremely proud of them, and to see them playing so well for their teams is something very special.”

UNDER-18 INTERNATIONAL SERIES RESULTS:

ROUND ONE:

SA U18 ‘A’ 36, Ireland 39

Georgia 35, England 31

SA U18 43, France 21

ROUND TWO:

SA U18 ‘A’ 57, Georgia 19

SA U18 45, Ireland 5

France 53, England 20

ROUND THREE:

SA U18 ‘A’ 14, France 40

Georgia 13, Ireland 13

SA U18 69, England 24

Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw were the big winners at the Vodacom Bulls Player Awards held in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.

On a dazzling night when players swapped rugby gear for glam, it was celebration all round as Hanekom, the Bulls No 8, was named Fans Player of the Year, Investec Champions Cup, Forward of the Year, Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year and Vodacom United Rugby Championship Forward of the Year, an extraordinary sweep by one of the team’s most outstanding players.

Louw, meanwhile, was rewarded for his heroic front-row efforts by being named Vodacom Bulls United Rugby Championship Player of the Year and winning the Vodacom Bulls Senior MVP award.

Sizophila Solontsi, who travels with the South African squad to the Rugby World Cup on Thursday, was named Isuzu Bulls Daisies Players Player of the Year and MVP.

Jannes Kirsten cracked the nod as Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Player of the Year, while Canan Moodie took home the Investec Champions Cup Back of the Year award.

In most cases, awards were determined by coaching staff and management, while players themselves voted for players’ player awards.

Additionally, the fan awards were adjudicated by Vodacom.

AWARD WINNERS

Vodacom Bulls U19 Back of the Year: JT Kapank

Vodacom Bulls U19 Forward of the Year: Jean Erasmus

Vodacom Bulls U19 Players Player of the Year: Abri van der Westhuysen; 

Vodacom Bulls U21 Back of the Year: Logan Opperman

Vodacom Bulls U21 Forward of the Year: Corne Beets

Vodacom Bulls U21 Players Player of the Year: Corne Beets

Isuzu Bulls Daisies Back of the Year (Puma): Patience Mokone

Isuzu Bulls Daisies Forward of the Year (Isuzu): Faith Tshauke 

Isuzu Bulls Daisies Players Player of the Year (GP Consult): Sizophila Solontsi

Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Back of the Year: Chris Smit

Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Forward of the Year: Joe van Zyl

Vodacom Bulls Carling Currie Cup Player of the Year: Jannes Kirsten

Vodacom Bulls Investec Champions Cup Back of the Year (Puma): Canan Moodie

Vodacom Bulls Investec Champions Cup Forward of the Year (Isuzu): Cameron Hanekom

Vodacom Bulls Investec Champions Cup Player of The Year: Cameron Hanekom

Vodacom Bulls United Rugby Championship Back of the Year: David Kriel;

Vodacom Bulls United Rugby Championship Forward of the Year: Cameron Hanekom

It is hardly surprising that Johan Ackermann didn’t have any bombshells to drop at his first press conference in Pretoria on Wednesday.

His introduction as the new Bulls coach was routine, and Ackermann, who arrived back in the country on Monday after time as the Junior Boks’s consultant as they won the Junior World Championship, hasn’t found his feet yet.

Welcome coach 🤝 pic.twitter.com/n72tmUOSbt

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 22, 2025

The scenario that he walks into is an uncomfortable one.

The previous coach - Jake White - was ejected after a player revolt that included the assistant coaches, the pre-season started this week for the next round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup kicks off this weekend.

Ackermann isn’t the Director of Rugby - a post that White also fulfilled - but rather the head coach, and a number of decisions need to be taken before the season begins.

But for now he is simply finding his feet, and hoping that he can do that quickly, as the honeymoon period won’t last.

NO SWYS AS SIDEKICK

But in his first appearance he killed the idea of his former assistant and current SA Women’s coach Swys de Bruin joining him at Loftus, didn’t want to commit on the future of the two assistant coaches that were part of the rebellion and spoke of the dream it was to return to the franchise that gave him his start in rugby.

It was all the normal introductory press conference that you’d expect from a new appointment, but it was also clear that Ackermann knows the pressure will come quickly and he will be expected to do better than his predecessor, who lost three URC finals in four years.

The irony wasn’t lost on Ackermann either - as he joked about his own failure in finals - he lost two Super Rugby finals with the Lions and a European Challenge Cup final with Gloucester - but said he would be looking for that one per cent extra to take the Bulls over the hurdle they keep failing at.

Johan Ackermann is officially unveiled as the new Vodacom Bulls coach 👋🟦#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/yEx7reVM4j

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 23, 2025

PLAYER REVOLT

But one thing he wasn’t going to be commenting about, was the player revolt that ended White’s reign.

“It is always difficult to make any comments from the outside. The reality is that if you haven’t worked with the players and the team, it is difficult to make comments. For me the task is to get to know each player, each talent, what their strengths are and what they can do and then you can put a plan in place for your strengths,” Ackermann said.

“When we were at the under-20s now, when we got to selection, there were always two coaches pulling for one player and two coaches pulling for another player. Each guy's got his own view. That will be the same for me. I need to assess the squad and then make a decision on how we want to play. That will ultimately determine where we're going to end up.”

Ackermann said he understood the pressure and knows he will be judged by results, saying that it is an intimidating prospect.

“No, I'm not going to lie, it's intimidating in the sense that I know the people are going to judge my success on the pitch. The media are going to judge me. The first thing that is said is that the Bulls should have appointed a different coach. So I’m under no illusion about what I’m facing.

“But the one thing that I learned is that you can't control what you can’t control. I can't go back to the past, I can't change anything. I can do as well as I can, I can treat the people around me as well as I can, I can prepare the team as well as I can. The rest will have to take care of itself.”

“When I look at my career as a player, the highs and the lows, and I look at myself as a coach, the good times and the bad times, that's just a part of life. We're all going through this and I know the Lord has a plan for us.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

“But I know I can make a difference in one player's life, whether I can help him through something or with something, whether I can make him a better player, whether I can help him get better, or whether I can help him save his marriage, or whatever.

“If in two years they tell me it wasn’t good enough, then I will trust that the next door will open, but I am going to do my best. I won’t let the pressure change me and put the pressure on the players to win everything. I will handle it the way I want to handle it and drive the culture I want in the team.”

TEAM VALUES

Ackermann reiterated that his culture in a team is a values-based outlook that players have to buy into.

“I think it's a values thing. I think it's something that you just install and if everybody agrees on it, then you can't turn back on it. If we all agree these are our values and we have to work together from now on, then hopefully nobody will go against our values, otherwise hopefully the group will push you outside if you don't live those values.

“So for me, again, if we're going to establish the culture we want to have, then hopefully we won't have that problem, because I'll have an open-door policy where you can come and talk and speak about why are you not performing, or what do I do wrong as a coach and how do we get a middle ground on that, so that we don't get to a position where players have to be unhappy, or integrity is questioned, or trust is questioned, because otherwise we don't live to our values that we establish if that gets broken.”

Ackermann knows it won’t be easy, but is relishing the challenge. The Bulls management needed a man-manager to settle things after the revolt and they have their man now.

The fans will wait and watch how Ackermann takes this side forward. White’s success isn’t an easy path to follow, but that's the challenge he has.

And with little time to prepare, the pressure is on.

Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote credited his team’s renowned, trademark South African grit and fighting spirit for their victory over New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship final in Italy on Saturday evening.

SA U20 captain Riley Norton and the Junior Boks lifted the U20 world crown on a humid evening in Rovigo, Italy, finishing the tournament unbeaten after a pulsating final against their fiercest rugby rivals.

The hard-fought 23-15 win delivered South Africa’s first U20 Championship title in 13 years, following their triumph over New Zealand in the 2012 final at a packed Newlands in Cape Town.

Speaking after the final whistle, Foote praised his team’s defensive resolve and refusal to let the Kiwis back into the game, even when they were camped on the SA tryline for long periods of time.

“Defence is all about character, and there were moments when New Zealand were right on our line, but we held firm,” said Foote said.

“From a coach’s perspective, you can’t ask for more than that. It was a real South African defensive effort and gees (spirit) that won it for us today.”

Foote, who took over as Junior Bok head coach at the end of last year, also described his winning squad as a special group of young rugby players.

“I love our country and the Springboks, and I love working with this age group,” he said.

“To see these young men grow from training in December to what they’ve achieved now is amazing. Being on this journey with them has been incredibly special, and I’ll never take it for granted.”

Foote added that he always believed in his team, even when the New Zealanders were pushing hard to regain control: “I looked at the players on the field and saw their body language – they were so present and in the moment. They had such belief, and I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved here in Italy.”

Norton, who led from the front, said: “The ball was so slippery, and your fundamentals had to be spot on in these conditions, which was tough. There were a few handling errors due to the incredible humidity, and our jerseys were absolutely drenched in sweat, but I think we handled the conditions well. This win is for everyone who supported us back home.”

The Junior Bok captain also credited their intense training in Stellenbosch for helping them adapt to the Italian summer heat.

“We actually adapted very well to the local conditions, even though it was winter when we left Stellenbosch,” said Norton. “That’s thanks to our conditioning and the fact that we’re used to training in similar summer weather back home.”

The Junior Springboks are expected to arrive back in South Africa on Monday morning, landing in Johannesburg before the players return to their respective provincial unions.

The Vodacom Bulls have named seasoned coach Johan Ackermann as their head coach with immediate effect.

Ackermann, who is currently assisting the Junior Boks in their quest to win the Junior World Championship in Italy, will join the team on his return to South Africa next week.

The former Lions coach, who led the team to two Super Rugby finals and built the Lions into a force in the mid 2010s, has been coaching in Japan in recent times after a stint with Gloucester in the English Premiership.

Ackermann, who started his career at the Bulls as a player, still lives in Pretoria and was on a shortlist of coaches put forward to the Board of Directors that included Bath head coach Johann van Graan, Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith and former Springbok and current Leinster assistant coach Jacques Nienaber.

Ackermann is a three time South African coach of the year and was also the SA A coach during his coaching tenure. An exceptional player manager, Ackermann has a long history with the Bulls and will fit in well with the culture.

“He’s the right person at the right time,” said Willem Strauss, president of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union. “He’s a Carlton League legend, he played his first test at Loftus, he played for the Bulls, his blood is blue. This was always meant to be. His management of people and ability to drive culture are renowned.”

It was a view echoed by Edgar Rathbone, the chief executive of the Blue Bulls Company.

“Johan Ackermann is not just an outstanding coach; he is a leader who lives and breathes the values of this union. His reputation for forging powerful team cultures, developing players to their full potential, and delivering results at the highest level is well proven.

“The Vodacom Bulls are a club built on legacy and ambition, and with Johan at the helm, we are confident our future will be shaped by excellence, resilience, and unity. This appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Bulls rugby, and we are thrilled to welcome him home.”

MANAGEMENT TEAM DISCUSSIONS

In a way it is not surprising the Bulls decided to go for Ackermann over the other three. For one he was the only candidate not currently in a long-term contract with another club and secondly, after the fallout that led to the exit of former World Cup winning coach Jake White, and the player revolt that caused it, it always would make sense to have a man-manager there rather than a more technical coach.

Ackermann will also discuss the rest of his management team when he gets to Pretoria next week, with a final decision to be taken then.

Speaking from Italy, where he is assisting the Junior Springboks ahead of the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship, Ackermann described his appointment as a dream come true.

“The moment I received the call I got goose bumps - it still feels too good to be true. I’m like a Grade One going to school for the first time. I’m so excited; it’s a privilege and an honour.”

“It’s a great union with wonderful tradition and supporters. Eighty per cent of my friends are Bulls supporters. The Vodacom Bulls have been successful for so many years, and now I have that challenge and I would like to thank the Board for giving me that opportunity. It’s a bit different to my previous roles where I had to help build teams up. The Bulls are already there - now I must make them grow and succeed even more.”

Ackermann’s journey through rugby is one of resilience, transformation, and quiet authority.

Born in Benoni in 1970, he forged a robust playing career as a lock, earning 13 test caps for the Springboks between 1996 and 2007. His relentless physicality and grit made him a formidable presence, and his final appearance at age 37 crowned him the oldest debutante in Springbok history.

After retiring in 2008, Ackermann transitioned seamlessly into coaching, beginning with the Lions in Johannesburg. Initially appointed as forwards coach, he took over as head coach in 2013, and ushered in a bold new era. Under his stewardship, the Lions reached two consecutive Super Rugby finals.

His teams played expansive, high-tempo rugby grounded in discipline and player empowerment. He cultivated a culture of respect and trust, transforming overlooked talent into Springboks and rekindling pride in the Lions jersey.

Ackermann’s tactical acumen and emotional intelligence earned him acclaim and international recognition. He led the SA ‘A’ side in 2016 and 2017 before joining Gloucester in England, where he guided the club to a Challenge Cup final and a Premiership semifinal.

In Japan, he continued to leave his mark with the Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks, bringing cohesion and values-based leadership to diverse squads.

Ackermann returned to South African rugby earlier this year as a coaching consultant for the SA under-20s.His influence extends far beyond the field. Steeped in faith and shaped by his time in the police force, he values character and resilience as deeply as tactics.

Whether developing young talent or rebuilding team identity, he remains a coach who builds champions, and good men, at the same time.

Ackermann will be formally unveiled to the media in Pretoria next week.

Eight players who were part of the two SA Schools squads last year have been included in the two groups again this year when the teams do battle in Middelburg in Mpumalanga on 17 July.

Western Province’s Josh Neill, Markus Muller, Briint Davids, and Jordan Jooste, as well as Ethan Adams and AJ Meyer from Free State, the Sharks’ Zekhethelo Siyaya, and André Poulton of the Golden Lions, all of whom featured in 2024, were again included in the two squads of 26 players each.

Western Province have the most representatives in the two groups – eight players in the SA Schools team, and 12 in the SA Schools ‘A’ squad.

The annual showpiece between the two sides will kick off at 15h00 at Hoërskool Middelburg, hosts of the FNB Under-18 Craven Week.

Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, congratulated all the players selected for the SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams.

“Your hard work, dedication, and performance have earned you this honour, and we celebrate your achievement today,” said Mr Alexander.

“We also acknowledge those who missed out, and remind you that your journey is far from over. Today we celebrate not only the selection of these teams, but the promise of a pathway that nurtures excellence, resilience, and opportunity.

“These young athletes represent the future of South African rugby, and while we honour those selected, we encourage every player to remain committed to their journey. The road ahead is filled with possibilities.”

Lwazi Zangqa from Border has been named as the head coach of the SA Schools side, and he will be assisted by the Bulls’ Cobus van Dyk, while the SA Schools ‘A’ team will be coached by Flash Malinga of the Sharks, with Clinton van Rensburg of Western Province named as his assistant.

SA SCHOOLS SQUAD

1 Kai Pratt (SWD / Oakdale)

2 Altus Rabe (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium)

3 Luan van der Berg (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein)

4 Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks / Westville Boys High)

5 AJ Meyer (Free State / Grey College)

6 Chinedu Amadi (Golden Lions / King Edward VII)

7 Josh Neill (Western Province / Rondebosch Boys High)

8 Jacobus de Villiers (SWD / Oakdale)

9 Morne Noble (Western Province / Wynberg Boys High)

10 Liyema Nela (Sharks / Hilton College)

11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Sharks / Westville Boys High)

12 Markus Muller (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

13 Ethan Adams (Free State / Grey College)

14 Junaide Stuart (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS)

15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks / Westville Boys High)

16 Clinton Agu (Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS)

17 Jordan Jooste (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

18 Matthew van der Merwe (Western Province / Rondebosch Boys High)

19 Jayden Joubert (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

20 Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks / Maritzburg College)

21 Gert Kemp (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium)

22 Zirk Meyer (Blue Bulls / Affies)

23 Ruben Groenewald (Blue Bulls / Affies)

24 Nathan Aneke (Sharks / Durban High School)

25 Lamla Mgedezi (Free State / Grey College)

26 Thabiso Simelane (Blue Bulls / St. Albans College)

SA SCHOOLS ‘A’ SQUAD

1 Andre Poulton (Golden Lions / Jeppe)

2 Keenan Myners (SWD / Outeniqua HS)

3 Bernhard du Toit (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

4 Diaan Augustyn (SWD / Oakdale)

5 Juvan Burden (Western Province / Stellenberg HS)

6 Caleb Koeberg (Western Province / Paul Roos Gymnasium)

7 Quintin Potgieter (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

8 Stefan McDonald (Blue Bulls / Affies)

9 Jayden Brits (Western Province / Boland Landbou)

10 Jeandre Uithaler (Golden Lions / Noordheuwel HS)

11 Ncuthu Kepe (Border / Queens College)

12 Christian Vorster (SWD / Oakdale)

13 Erin Nelson (Eastern Province / Graeme College)

14 Lucritia Magua (Eastern Province / Graeme College)

15 Junade Pasensie (Blue Bulls / Garsfontein HS)

16 Thomas Muller (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

17 Jeffrey Singo (Blue Bulls / Pretoria Boys High)

18 JG Badenhorst (Free State / Grey College)

19 Lian Terblanche (Sharks / Northwood HS)

20 Briint Davids (Western Province / Milnerton HS)

21 Mickyle Booise (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

22 Ethan van Biljon (Western Province / Stellenberg HS)

23 Jeneall Davids (Western Province / Paarl Boys High)

24 Pieter Cilliers (Western Province / Paarl Gimnasium)

25 Toriq Schambreel (Free State / Grey College)

26 Jadon Ocks (Western Province / Boland Landbou)

SA SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT:

Head Coach: Lwazi Zangqa (Border)

Assistant Coach: Cobus van Dyk (Blue Bulls)

Team Manager: Dean Moodley (Sharks)

Physiotherapist: Robin Williams (Sharks)

Conditioning Coach: Yaw Fosu-Amoah (Eastern Province)

Team Doctor: Dr Gershwin Kortje (Boland)

SA SCHOOLS ‘A’ MANAGEMENT:

Head Coach: Flash Malinga (Sharks)

Assistant Coach: Clinton van Rensburg (Western Province)

Team Manager: Mandla Madaka (Blue Bulls)

Physiotherapist: Rob Sims (Western Province)

Conditioning Coach: Adriaan Jansen (SWD)

Team Doctor: Dr Gershwin Kortje (Boland)

The arrival of several big names at the Vodacom Bulls side ahead of the new Vodacom United Rugby Championship season and the Investec Champions Cup has given the team a meaner look about it, and a lot to look forward to when the season begins.

The team officially revealed their signings this past week, even though the names have been swirling around in the rugby world for some time now, and a holistic look at their squad going forward gives them a group with a lot of depth, a lot of experience and a lot of hope of going one further than their three URC Finals performances in four years.

The big-name signing was, of course, Springbok double World Cup winner Handre Pollard, while former Bok Jan Serfontein’s arrival gives the midfield some steel and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg adds depth to an already impressive loose forward roster.

CURRIE CUP CAN BOLSTER A FEW

The additions of names like World Cup winner Marvin Orie and Free State veteran Jeandre Rudolph - both only for the upcoming Currie Cup - give the Bulls much more depth. Orie has an option to stay on after the Currie Cup and could be a more long term acquisition, if all goes well in the next few months.

Another player whose contract ends after the Currie Cup is former Scotland international Jaco van der Walt, who will be one of the key players for the Bulls in the domestic trophy.

But a look across the positions in the squad, which totals 55 players, is a healthy one with experience across the board - with another four juniors likely to be called up during the season to start their ascent to the senior squad.

In almost every position in the pack there is a current Springbok, plus some excellent depth and emerging talent that shows a very healthy contracting system.

Think of this the Bulls can pick a Springbok that is in Rassie Erasmus’ plans in their pack. Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw form a potent front row, while Ruan Nortje and Cobus Wiese (who will make his debut this weekend) make up the tight five.

Marco van Staden is a Bok regular and Cameron Hanekom, who has had rotten luck with injuries, is at eight. And that’s not even mentioning the swinger talents of Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Elrigh Louw would round out that pack when he returns from a long term injury as well.

DEPTH IN EVERY POSITION

But around them - in almost every position there is depth. Akker van der Merwe won’t stand back for any player at hooker, nor will Mornay Smith at tighthead.

In the front row the rising talents of Alulutho Tshakweni, Joe van Zyl and Khutha Mchunu are still there, while in the second row former SA under-20 captain JF van Heerden has already established himself and the regulars - Ruan Vermaak and Reinhardt Ludwig are there to support while SA under-20 star Jaco Grobbelaar is likely to be seen a lot more this season.

Ruan Nortje will continue to grow as he leads the team and adds test caps to his resume.

And the arrival of Orie and Dylan de Leeuw means that with Sintu Manjezi there is a whole lot of depth there.

The biggest depth is at loose forward, especially when you look further than Louw, Hanekom and Van Staden. Regular captain Marcell Coetzee is there, as is experienced go-to man Nizaam Carr.

Former SA under-20 star Corne Beets is still at the Bulls and needs to overcome an injury, but add his name to Jannes Kirsten, Celimpilo Gumede and Nama Xaba and there is a lot of depth.

PLENTY TO PROVE

Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg’s arrival adds to that and having been on the fringes of the Bok squad while at Montpellier, he will want to challenge for a place front and centre now.

Paul de Wet’s arrival at halfback is an interesting one, and will set up a good duel for starting places with Embrose Papier and Zak Burger while at flyhalf, the duel for the starting position will only hot up when Handre Pollard gets back from Bok duty.

In the meantime, Johan Goosen will likely continue as No 1 with Boeta Chamberlain and Van der Walt vying for a role in the Currie Cup and staking a claim there. Keagan Johannes’ utility role was a massive part of the Bulls success last season and will be revived once again.

Serfontein and Harold Vorster are likely to be the mainstays at 12, while David Kriel - the swiss army knife for the Bulls with his versatility - is likely to continue at 13 with Stedman Gans his main competitor for a starting role.

SPEED OUT WIDE

In the back three Willie le Roux has another year in the role and will return a test centurion, while Kurt-Lee Arendse is back from his sabattical and Canan Moodie continues to grow. In their absence at the Boks Sebastian de Klerk is likely to feature heavily and should he stay injury-free, Stravino Jacobs as well.

The Bulls have plenty of options there as well with Sergeal Petersen, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Katlego Letebele all able to slot in while Devon Williams provides back up at 15 with Henry Immelmann returning from the Sharks.

All in all, whoever the next Bulls coach is, he will have a decent squad at his disposal, and if used correctly, could see the team taking the next step forward.

Because while three URC finals in four years is a good thing, Bulls fans crave a trophy, and they will hope the new appointment will bring just that, and build on the good work over the past few years.

Bulls squad for Vodacom United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup 2025/6

Asterix denotes new signing

Loosehead props: Gerhard Steenekamp, Alulutho Tshakweni, Dylan Smith

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Akker van der Merwe, Joe van Zyl, Juan Else

Tighthead props: Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Wilco Louw, Khutha Mchunu,

Utility forwards: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Reinhardt Ludwig

Locks: Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Sintu Manjezi, Marvin Orie* (CC), Dylan de Leeuw*

Loose forwards: Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Jannes Kirsten, Marcell Coetzee, Marco van Staden, Celimpilo Gumede, Nama Xaba, Nizaam Carr, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg*, Jeandre Rudolph* (CC), Corne Beets

Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier, Zak Burger, Paul de Wet*

Flyhalves: Boeta Chamberlain, Jaco van der Walt (CC), Johan Goosen, Handre Pollard*

Midfielders: Chris Barend Smit, Cornel Smit, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Stedman Gans, Jan Serfontein*

Wingers: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Katlego Letebele, Sergeal Petersen, Sebastian de Klerk, Stravino Jacobs

Fullbacks: Devon Williams, Willie le Roux, Henry Immelmann

Utility backs: Keagan Johannes

Under-20 players likely to be used during the season: Steven Nel (9), PA van Niekerk (12), Jaco Grobbelaar (4), Ruan Swart (1)

Carling Currie Cup winner Jeandre Rudolph has joined the herd on a short-term agreement. Rudolph, who arrives in the capital after 74 appearances in the judicial capital, is dubbed a diesel-powered workhorse for his relentless work ethic on and off the field.

The Roodepoort native brings that firepower to the administrative capital from the start of July, running through to the end of the 2025/26 season.

The Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale product has experience in Super Rugby, Carling Currie Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, and Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Among his honours are the domestic crown, captaining his alma mater to their maiden Varsity Cup title

Springbok lock Marvin Orie has signed with the Vodacom Bulls on a short-term deal.

 The 2023 World Cup winner, who is no stranger to the club, arrived from Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignanais at the beginning of July on a season-long deal, which begins with the Carling Currie Cup campaign.

Orie had previously earned 10 caps for the club before stints with the Lions [44], Ospreys [7], and the Stormers [42], before his French shift at Perpignanais where he amassed 29 caps in his two seasons in the Pyrénées-Orientales.

South Africa’s leading schoolboys will be in action at the FNB U18 Craven Week tournament at Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga, starting on Monday with the final day scheduled for next Saturday.

The final instalment of SA Rugby’s 2025 FNB Youth Weeks programme will run from Monday 7 July to Saturday 12 July, with 16 teams competing across the matches played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

At the conclusion of the tournament, the SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams will be announced. They will face each other at Hoërskool Middelburg on Thursday, 17 July, while the U18 International Series will follow in August.

Nine players who featured in the SA Schools and SA U18 teams last year have been included in their provincial squads again. They are Josh Neill, Markus Muller, Briint Davids, Jordan Jooste (all WP), Ethan Adams, AJ Meyer (both Free State), Zekhe Siyaya (KZN), André Poulton (Lions), and Joshua McKenzie (EP).

Eight teams are in action on the opening day of the tournament, with the Western Province XV and the Griffons meeting in the first fixture at 09h30.

Free State, who went down to DHL Western Province in the final match of the 2024 tournament, will face South Western Districts thereafter.

The FNB U18 Craven Week Opening Ceremony at 14h00 will be followed by a clash between the Hollywood Foundation Pumas – the hosts of this year’s tournament – and the Limpopo Blue Bulls.

DHL Western Province, who finished last year’s tournament unbeaten, will be in action on Tuesday, along with the Leopards, Valke, Border, Suzuki Griquas, Sharks High Schools, Eastern Province and Sanlam Boland.

All the FNB U18 Craven Week action will be broadcast by SuperSport.

FNB U18 Craven Week day one schedule (Monday, 7 July):

09h30: DHL Western Province XV v Griffons

11h00: Free State v South Western Districts

12h30: Blue Bulls v Obaro Golden Lions

14h00: Opening Ceremony

14h30: Hollywood Foundation Pumas v Limpopo Blue Bulls

FNB U18 Craven Week day two schedule (Tuesday, 8 July):

10h00: Leopards v Valke

11h30: Border v Suzuki Griquas

13h00: Sharks High Schools v Eastern Province

14h30: DHL Western Province v Sanlam Boland

The Vodacom Bulls and their Director of Rugby Jake White have parted ways with immediate effect.

The team released a joint press release saying “Following a thorough end-of-season review, the Vodacom Bulls and Director of Rugby Jake White have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately.”

The announcement means the end of a five-year stint for White, who took the Bulls to three Vodacom United Rugby Championship finals in four years, and also won the Currie Cup twice and the Super Rugby Unlocked trophy twice during the pandemic.

The Vodacom Bulls and Director of Rugby, Jake White, have mutually agreed to part ways at the end of June 2025 following a season review.

Since joining in 2022, White delivered back-to-back titles in Super Rugby Unlocked and the Carling Currie Cup, and led the Vodacom Bulls to… pic.twitter.com/jzUYWS2BXs

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 4, 2025

White also took the side to the final of the Rainbow Cup and was successful in his tenure with the team, but ultimately lost the changeroom as the players engineered his exit through a grievance process at the end of the season.

Captain Ruan Nortje and fellow co-captain Marcell Coetzee went to see the CEO Edgar Rathbone near the end of the season with a list of grievances from the players, including threats of players to not renew their contracts if White stayed on.

This, as well as an alleged fallout with Rathbone and White’s acrimonious relationships with his assistant coaches ultimately led to the decision, taken after the Bulls board meeting on Friday.

While neither party refers to the circumstances that led to White’s exit, the World Cup winning coach did make reference to it in his parting shot, where he thanked the Bulls and said he had taken the decision after “consulting the shareholders.”

WHITE'S DECISION

White is known to be close to Bulls co-owner Johann Rupert, and this would ultimately have played a part in the decision.

“I have made the decision to move on. With many years’ coaching experience, I felt it would be difficult to get the squad to perform to the next level. Therefore, in the best interest of both myself and the Bulls I feel it’s time for a new chapter,” White said.

“It’s time for this group to have a new voice. I have enjoyed my time in Pretoria. I met some wonderful friends. I believe that rugby is like life - you win some, you lose some. You learn as you grow. You need to be strong and courageous and, most importantly, it isn’t always fair.

“I would like to thank all the loyal supporters, the Bulls staff that worked tirelessly, and the players for their hard work and dedication. I wish BBRU president Willem Strauss and the amateur game lots of success in the future. To the shareholders, I will always be grateful for all the support and financial backing they gave, far and beyond any other club. Thank you for the privilege. To the Board for their support and CEO, Edgar Rathbone, coaches and management, it was great to be part of this winning culture. To be part of Bulls rugby history has been an absolute honour. I wish Bulls rugby all the best. Hou die blou bo!”

HISTORY OF LEAVING CLUBS EARLY

White has had a history of leaving clubs under less than ideal circumstances.

His tenure at the Sharks ended early in 2014 after just one season while at the Brumbies in Australia his two-year stint saw them beat the British and Irish Lions and get to the final of Super Rugby, yet White left before the end of his contract and the Brumbies dragged him through a legal process.

Still, White was successful at the Bulls but clearly the relationships with players and coaching staff wasn’t as good as it could have been.

And while more stories from inside the camp are bound to come out, the Bulls will now start the search for a new coach in the coming weeks with not much time before the pre-season begins.

The arrival of new players in former Springboks Jan Serfontein, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Marvin Orie, Stormers scrumhalf Paul de Wet, Free Stater Jeandre Rudolph and a handful of others will bolster the squad, while they will only lose Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bath) and Simphiwe Matanzima (Sharks) in the season change.

Bok pivot Handre Pollard will join the team at the end of his Bok commitments, which are only likely to be in December.

PLATITUDES OF PRAISE

White received the normal platitudes on such an exit in the release with Rathbone and Bulls President Willem Strauss both praising him for his time at the club.

“He did amazing work here and it was a privilege to work with him as he helped our team become a superpower again. He has given us a great platform to build upon with a talented crop of young players who are just finding their true offering,” Rathbone said.

“He also helped the bigger playing group develop, with 10 emerging to play for the Springboks. This encouraging growth also ensured we were often in the mix for silverware.”

Club president Willem Strauss thanked White for his openness and contributions, especially at the grassroots level.

“On behalf of the club, the supporters, the staff and all our shareholders, I would like to thank Jake for the work he has done, the love and passion he has shown to our players, people and community during his time with us. His leadership has left a fantastic mark on our club, and the way he fought to get us up when we needed it the most will make him a hero of ours for a long time to come. He leaves the club in a better place than when he arrived.

“During his rugby directorship, he helped elevate our grassroots game in the manner that he devised our integration strategy between the high-performance environment and our club Ecosystem.”

The names said to be targets for the Bulls next coach include former Lions and Gloucester coach Johann Ackermann, Bath head coach Johann van Graan, Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith and Leinster assistant coach and former Bok coach Jacques Nienaber.

All of these, bar Ackermann, are currently in contract with their clubs and will need to be bought out of their contracts if they are to move to Loftus.