Vodacom Bulls Name 55-Man Squad for 2026/2027 URC Season With 15 Springboks

• The Vodacom Bulls have packed their new URC squad with Springbok experience and several fresh faces from South Africa and Europe
• The Pretoria side has made significant additions to its playing group, with some familiar names set to join the Bulls for the new campaign
• The Bulls face a demanding URC schedule that will take them across Europe and South Africa, with several big fixtures awaiting them

The Vodacom Bulls have unveiled their 55-man squad for the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship campaign, combining 15 Springboks with eight new signings as they prepare for another demanding season.

The Bulls announced their squad on 17 September on their official site, and it includes established internationals such as Handré Pollard, Canan Moodie, Willie le Roux, Marcell Coetzee, Gerhard Steenekamp and Cameron Hanekom.

The Bulls have also strengthened their ranks with Thaakir Abrahams from Munster, Curwin Bosch from Brive, Hanro Liebenberg from Leicester Tigers, and Hakeem Kunene and Mawande Mdanda from the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

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Sango Xamlashe, Dylan Maart and Luan Giliomee complete the list of new arrivals, with Giliomee set to have a delayed start to the season. The Bulls described the squad as a combination of "seasoned international firepower, strategic new recruits, and a crop of high-octane young talent".

Vodacom Bulls 55-man squad

The Bulls' forwards are:

Props and hookers: Alulutho Tshakweni, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Sti Sithole, Dylan Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Akker van der Merwe, Juann Else, Janco Uys, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Khuta Mchunu, Jean Erasmus and Mawande Mdanda.

Locks and loose forwards: Ruan Vermaak, Cobus Wiese, Jaco Grobbelaar, JF van Heerden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Heinrich Theron, Nicolaas Jansen van Rensburg, Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Nama Xaba, Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw, Hanro Liebenberg, Cameron Hanekom, Mpilo Gumede, JJ Theron and Jeandré Rudolph.

The backs include:

Embrose Papier, Paul de Wet, Zak Burger, Neil le Roux, Keagan Johannes, Handré Pollard, Curwin Bosch, Luan Giliomee, Stravino Jacobs, Sergeal Petersen, Thaakir Abrahams, Riyaad Bam, Harold Vorster, Sango Xamlashe, Stedman Gans, Katlego Letebele, Demetri Erasmus, Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste, Dylan Maart, Willie le Roux, Devon Williams and Hakeem Kunene.

The eight new signings are Abrahams, Bosch, Giliomee, Kunene, Liebenberg, Maart, Mdanda and Xamlashe.

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Bulls face Zebre before Munster test

The Bulls open their URC campaign on Saturday, 26 September, away to Zebre Parma at Stadio Lanfranchi in Parma, with kick-off scheduled for 18:30.

A week later, on 3 October, they travel to Thomond Park to face Munster at 20:45.

Their first home match comes on 10 October, when they host the 10Bet Lions at Loftus Versfeld at 13:30.

Ulster and Scarlets then visit Loftus, while the Bulls travel to the Lions and Sharks, host the Stormers and then return to Europe.

Full Vodacom Bulls 2026/27 URC fixtures

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The combination of Springbok experience, eight new recruits, and a 55-player squad gives the Bulls considerable depth across an 18-round campaign. Their season starts in Parma on 26 September, with the first home assignment against the Lions following on 10 October.

Bulls’ previous injury crisis exposed squad depth concerns

Briefly News previously reported that the Vodacom Bulls endured a major injury setback during their 2026 Currie Cup campaign, with three players ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Captain Nama Xaba, hooker Shaun Schuurman, and centre PA van Niekerk were among those sidelined, while head coach Phiwe Nomlomo admitted the union's resources were stretched across multiple teams.

Source: Briefly News