Latest news with #Ackermann
Elle
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Feast Your Eyes on Pedro Pascal In His Tom Ford Suit
THE RUNDOWN Tom Ford knows how to make a damn good suit, and thankfully, Pedro Pascal looks great in them. Last night, the actor stepped out on the blue carpet for the world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, who showed his debut collection for the house this spring. The actor's look, while crafted to perfection, offered plenty of non-traditional twists. The foundation of the suit was a slim-fit white jacket which featured a special adornment. In an interview with Extra on the carpet, Pascal explained that the duo added a red carnation to the jacket pocket, teasing that its context will soon be understood. (Get your theories ready!) In lieu of both a tie and a collared shirt, Pascal instead opted for a simple white tank top and polka-dot silk foulard tied loosely around the neck, embodying his usual editorial ease. Last night's premiere isn't the only time Pascal has graced the carpet in a Tom Ford design by Ackermann. During the Fantastic Four press tour, the Materialists actor has sported numerous TF looks. To name a few: during a launch event in London, he wore a subtly printed black suit, again forgoing a collared shirt in favor of a powder-blue silk foulard and asymmetrically popped lapel collar, a beautifully simple detail that is quickly becoming signature to Ackermann's tenure at the brand. And at a fan event in Berlin, Pascal opted for a more casual look, with a cream printed silk shirt and scarf-tie detail that perfectly complemented his white pleated trousers. On Instagram, Ackermann posted a carousel of the looks, saying he was 'truly honored for these moments' he's spent working with Pascal, making them one of the current red carpet's strongest designer-muse pairings.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Coach Johan Ackermann upbeat about future as he takes over at the Bulls
As he prepares to take over the coaching reins at the Bulls, Johan Ackermann is confident the array of talent at Loftus has what it takes to finally win the United Rugby Championship (URC). The vastly experienced Ackermann is replacing Jake White, who led the Bulls to three URC finals and the knockout stages of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. 'This team has talent and I believe we can play any style of rugby we want,' said Ackermann, who was part of the coaching staff for the Junior Springboks as they won the U20 Championships in Italy, with their final victory against the Baby Blacks on Saturday. 'We can play the traditional Bulls style and be physical and have good set pieces, but we also have the quality to attack and play all the spaces that the opposition give us. 'My philosophy is to play an exciting and attacking brand of rugby, be positive and score tries. And we have to acknowledge that what the Bulls have been doing must work. Welcome coach 🤝 — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 22, 2025 'They have beaten good sides and reached playoffs. I do feel there were moments where I would probably want to change a few things tactically, and once I get used to players and understand our strengths as a team, I can then bring my own flavour in. 'This has been a quality performing team for the last few years already, so that is a challenge for me — to make sure we keep performing with the quality of this squad.' Coaches of the leading South African franchises have a balancing act to perform ensuring their teams compete well in the URC and Champions Cup. 'There will be the challenge of managing this squad across various competitions, as is the norm for the modern-day coach. There will be the challenge of the always-high expectations on this team,' Ackermann said. 'The expectation is high and it brings a different pressure on this position. You can feel there's not a lot of room for error. But I can only be myself and enjoy this and through that we can keep that standard going.' The coach said he will first look internally to find a winning formula. 'If something is not quite clicking, then I normally look at the team's values. If as a team you've put out certain values at the beginning of the season and one of those is not going well, then it will reflect on the field. 'It's not about chasing the outcome or the result or the position on the log. It's about looking and seeing if there is something small we're not doing as a team. 'Finals are won on such small margins and I've experienced losing finals. It's very difficult to judge the outcome of a final from the outside if you haven't been involved in that week's preparation with the team for the game. 'Then from a tactical point of view, it's about going back to the principles of the game and seeing what we're missing. It's about what we control now — the next training session, the next scrum, the next breakdown.'
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Johan Ackermann returns home to lead the Vodacom Bulls
Benoni-born Johan Ackermann has been appointed as the new head coach of the Vodacom Bulls—an opportunity he described as a dream come true. The three-time South African coach of the year comes to Loftus Versfeld with elite-level experience, having coached both locally and overseas, most recently with the South African U20s. Ackermann, currently in Italy assisting the Junior Springboks ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship final, reacted to his appointment in a press statement issued by the Vodacom Blue Bulls. 'The moment I received the call, I got goosebumps! 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 a wonderful tradition and incredible supporters. Eighty percent of my friends are Bulls supporters. The Vodacom Bulls have been successful for many years. I now face that challenge, and I must thank the Board for the opportunity. 'It's a bit different from my previous roles, where I had to help build teams up. The Bulls are already there—now I must help them grow and succeed even more,' said Ackermann. Journey 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. Known for his relentless physicality and grit, he became a formidable presence—and when he made his Test debut at age 37, he became the oldest Springbok debutant in 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 semi-final. 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 U20s. Ackermann's 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 committed to building both champions and men of character. New chapter for Bulls Willem Strauss, president of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, affirmed, 'He's the right person at the right time.' 'He's a Carlton League legend, he played his first Test at Loftus, and 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.' Strauss's view is echoed by Edgar Rathbone, the chief executive of the Blue Bulls Company. 'Johan 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.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
The Springbok who kept coming back — the making of new Bulls coach Johan Ackermann
Johan Ackermann was named new Bulls coach this past week. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix In 2001, the Cats rugby team was on a Super 12 tour in Australia. On the rowdy bus trip to a training session, something was said that annoyed Johan Ackermann. When the bus broke out in laughter at the offending remark, Ackermann quietly got up and walked to the front of the bus, took the microphone, and sternly said in Afrikaans: 'Make a queue. I don't want to go looking for anyone.' No one moved and the journey continued in reverent silence. That encapsulates the presence commanded by a giant who was mostly gentle, but not always ... 🚨 Official: Johan Ackermann is the new Head Coach of the Vodacom Bulls! 🐃 A former Vodacom Bulls player, Springbok and 3x SA Coach of the Year 🏆 💬 'His blood is blue.' 💬 'A dream come true.' FULL PRESS RELEASE: — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 16, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading And that reminds me of a Sharks training session I watched in 2005. The forwards were embroiled in a robust mauling session. Suddenly, there was a mighty bellow and from the centre of the maul, players were flung in all directions, like toothpicks, until there was just Johan Ackermann, the epitome of the Incredible Hulk. Except his face was red, not green. Somebody (surely mistakenly) had grabbed the big man in the nether region, and the response was volcanic. Ackermann was from the old school, a throwback to the amateur era of Springbok invincibility when rugby was a peace-time form of warfare, a theatre in which men aspired to the virtues of courage, loyalty and brotherhood. Johan Ackermann during his playing days for the Springboks. Ackermann played 13 Test for SA. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Men like Ackermann, who was an anachronism in the modern era, where many are pampered prima donnas. Consider that this guy's career spanned an incredible two decades – his final match, for the Sharks against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in 2008, was 20 years after he had made his debut on the same ground for Northern Transvaal Under-20. He had shoulder surgery four times, knee surgery twice, a serious neck problem, and a two-year suspension for use of a banned substance. He had careers with the Bulls, Lions, Cats, Sharks and Griquas, and played club rugby in Italy and England. He had three separate Springbok careers, with five-year exiles in between each stint. He was the oldest man to play for the Springboks (37) until overtaken by Victor Matfield and Schalk Brits (both 38). After finishing at the Sharks, for good measure, he played two seasons of club rugby for Cape Town club Hamiltons. Canan Moodie with the unthinkable... Bumped off Ox Nche 🤯 Who wins that rematch? 👇@Vodacom #URC — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) July 17, 2025 Like that Old Man River in the famous song about the Mississippi, Ackermann kept rolling on, occasionally tumbling down waterfalls, recovering to shoot the rapids. So Ackermann's career went full circle — he tapered off at club rugby, which was where he started with Pretoria Police after finishing school in Benoni in 1987. 'And what days they were,' he told me in 2009. 'We used to eat steak and chips on a Friday night before a game, washed down with beer. Now it is Powerade and pasta! 'I had no rugby pedigree when I started but found myself in a Police team that was packed with Bulls,' he recalled. 'There was tremendous camaraderie, and that is why I chose to finish at club level, so that my family could experience the fun of a Saturday afternoon at the club, with the kids kicking a ball around and the braai afterwards. 'I wish more youngsters would continue with rugby after school so that they can experience the social side of rugby.' Ackermann's early days in Pretoria's unforgiving Carlton Cup moulded him into a no-quarter-given type of lock. 'Half the armed forces were stationed in Pretoria at that time and club rugby was bloody fierce,' he recalled. 'You had to dish it out and you had to take it. If the opposition wavered, you had them. That was how we won the games against the students — we won the fights,' he laughed. But this Sherman tank ploughing through the opposition is at odds with the silent giant off the field. 'When I put on the jersey, it is like putting on armour for battle,' he explained. 'Afterwards, I take the armour off and shake hands. But for the 80 minutes, the opposition is the enemy and they must lose. Simple! 'Playing rugby is more than sport,' he continued. 'It is about loyalty to your mates and the spectators. Can you look in the mirror if you have not given your all?' It was on August 3, 1996, that Ackermann's life changed. It was the Springboks versus the Wallabies in Bloemfontein in a Tri-Nations match. Ackermann was playing in his fourth Test. At 26, he had the rugby world before him until he was stretchered off with a knee injury. 'I had an operation and the prognosis was that I could play again in three months, but after three weeks the knee was so sore I could hardly walk,' he said gravely. 'A biokineticist at the Police College said he had worked with people recovering from accidents and used a medication that 'kick-started' muscle recovery. I used this stuff just once because it did nothing for the knee, and I forgot about it.' At the beginning of 1997, Ackermann was in a Bok squad announced by Andre Markgraaff for fitness testing. 'Two weeks later I was told I had tested positive for a banned substance.' Ackermann had been given bad advice at a time when sport was still waking up to the perils of steroid use. 'It was a very dark time for me,' he said. 'A two-year sentence for something I used once and which did not help? I was devastated, an emotional wreck at first and then an angry bull. The loss of earnings did not bother me. It was missing out on playing the All Blacks and the British Lions of '97. It was agony to know I should have been part of it, but for a horrible misunderstanding.' The disappointment gave way to a hunger to play again for the Boks. 'I felt obligated to my family, friends and fans to play again. There was unfinished business. I wanted to prove that making the Boks had not been a fluke.' Ackermann was offered a lifeline by former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains, who coached the Lions and Cats in 2000 and 2001. 'Laurie brought discipline to our rugby and our good form helped me to get picked by (Bok coach) Harry Viljoen, and my first Test back (the 20-15 win over France in Durban in 2001) brought immense relief.' Ackermann played four Tests before dislocating a shoulder, underwent surgery and then dislocated it again. 'I was down and out. Nobody wanted to take a chance on my suspect shoulder. Then Andre Markgraaff at Griquas took a gamble and signed me for two years.' Markgraaff believed in Ackermann. He gave him his first Springbok cap in 1996, persuaded Viljoen to pick him in 2001 and he took him in when nobody wanted him in 2003. So in 2004 and 2005, Ackermann played in the Currie Cup for Griquas and during the Super 12 season he played club rugby in Italy. Another former Springbok coach, Rudolf Straeuli, offered Ackermann a contract with the Sharks and by the end of 2006, Ackermann was once more a Springbok under Jake White. 'The third time was like the first time. We toured the UK and Ireland, which I had never done before, and to play at Twickenham for the first time and at that stage of my career was very special.' In two decades, Ackermann went through it all: injuries, suspension, small unions, big unions, a little club in Italy and Northampton Saints in England, and three stints with the Boks. After all of this, what means the most to him? 'Each time I was handed a Springbok jersey I felt overwhelming pride, and if my career can inspire even one player to fight back from adversity, I will have served South African rugby.' Ackermann has had a highly successful career as a coach. He pulled the Lions out of a nosedive and guided them to three Super Rugby finals. He also led Gloucester to success in the English Premiership and coached the Red Hurricanes in Japan. This is an extract from Mike Greenaway's best-selling book, The Fireside Springbok.
France 24
6 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Former Springbok Ackermann succeeds White as Bulls coach
The Pretoria outfit have reached three of the four United Rugby Championship (URC) finals since South African sides were admitted to a competition including teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. Bulls lost finals to fellow South Africans the Stormers in 2022, Glasgow Warriors in 2024 and Leinster this year. Soon after the heavy defeat by Leinster in Dublin last month, 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White quit as Bulls boss, saying the "time had come for a new voice". Ackermann, 55, formerly coached the Johannesburg-based Lions for four seasons, Gloucester in England and the Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan before returning to South Africa last year. He is currently in Italy, assisting South Africa in the world under-20 championship, where they have reached the final against New Zealand. "The moment I received the call I got goose bumps," said Ackermann, who was capped 13 times by the Springboks over 12 seasons from 1996. "It still feels too good to be true. I am like someone going to school for the first time. I am so excited. It is a privilege and an honour." The Bulls launch their 2025/26 URC campaign against Welsh visitors the Ospreys on September 27, then host Leinster seven days later.
