Latest news with #EPCRChallengeCup
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
New twist to Bulls coach saga
White is expected to leave his role – despite having taken the Bulls to three Vodacom URC finals in four seasons and being contracted until 2027. STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 04: Johan Ackermann (Coaching Consultant) during the South Africa Academy U20 training session at Van der Stel Fields on February 05, 2025 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images) Johan Ackermann, the favourite to replace Jake White as Vodacom Bulls head coach, has received another offer. According to Rapport, the former Lions coach received a contract extension offer from SA Rugby to continue his work with the Junior Springboks before news broke about White's situation at the Bulls. White is expected to leave his role – despite having taken the Bulls to three Vodacom URC finals in four seasons and being contracted until 2027 – following reported discontent among senior players and assistant coaches Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw over White's leadership. Rapport says the Bulls are expected to confirm White's departure within the next two weeks. Ackermann joined the Junior Boks as a forwards consultant in January on a six-month deal which was extended by a month to include the World Rugby U20 Championship that starts on Sunday. The 55-year-old had emerged as a leading candidate for the Loftus job due to his strong relationship with Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone (who he worked with at the Lions) and president Willem Strauss. However, two other big names are also in the mix. Franco Smith, who guided the Glasgow Warriors to the 2024-25 URC title, is under contract until 2026 but is reportedly frustrated by budget constraints and foreign player rules in Scotland. Johann van Graan, fresh off a historic treble with Bath – winning the EPCR Challenge Cup, English Premiership and Premiership Cup – has a contract until 2030 but is believed to still harbour ambitions of coaching the Bulls and eventually the Springboks. This story was first published on It is republished here with permission.
RTÉ News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Will Stuart
NAME: Will Stuart DOB: 12/06/1996 POSITION: Prop CLUB: Bath ENGLAND CAPS: 50 A late developer, Stuart was a bit-part player at Wasps for several seasons until a move to Bath in 2019 kick-started his career. Now well established as England's first choice tighthead, Stuart won his 50th cap in England's hammering of Wales in Cardiff on the final round of the 2025 Six Nations, scoring his third Test try that afternoon. A Premiership finalist with Bath in 2024, he was part of the team that won the EPCR Challenge Cup in May 2025.
RTÉ News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Finn Russell
NAME: Finn Russell DOB: 23/09/1992 POSITION: Out-half CLUB: Bath SCOTLAND CAPS: 87 LIONS CAPS: 1 Now on his third Lions tour, Russell was one of the infamous 'Geography Six' called in as cover in New Zealand eight years ago, while his 2021 tour of South Africa was disrupted by injury, making just two appearances, although he did feature in the third Test. The Scotland out-half has spent five years each at Glasgow and Racing 92, while he is nearing the end of his second season at Bath, where he has played in a Premiership final and won an EPCR Challenge Cup. Currently fourth in Scotland's all-time points list, with 436 points in 87 caps.
The Citizen
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Boks call up Edinburgh prop as squad size reduced
Edinburgh prop Boan Venter earned his first Springbok call-up today. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus named a group of 45 players following the completion of the team's first week of training in Johannesburg for the 2025 international season. With props Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu among six players released from the initial 55-man squad due to injuries, Erasmus drafted in Venter – a member of the Junior Springbok training group in 2017 – as the only new addition to his squad. The other injured players released from the squad are Lukhanyo Am (centre), Pieter-Steph du Toit (utility forward), Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus (both No 8s), while another five playersP: Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf), Jordan Hendrikse (flyhalf), Quan Horn (fullback), Renzo du Plessis (flanker) and Ntokozo Makhaza (utility back) – have also been released to their unions. Also read: 'Technical' roadblock delays Trokkie's Bok dream The majority of the squad assembles in Johannesburg this afternoon to continue their preparations for the season, while the Vodacom Bulls players, who battled it out with Leinster in the URC final yesterday, will join their teammates tomorrow night, and RG Snyman on Tuesday afternoon. The English Premiership final players, Handre Pollard and Thomas du Toit, meanwhile, will report for duty tomorrow and next Monday (initially for three days) respectively, while Venter will join the squad on June 29. 'Our first week of training went well, and it offered us a chance to assess our depth and measure the level at which the players are currently, with an eye on the international season,' said Erasmus. 'We also took stock of the injuries and determined in which positions we needed cover, as well as those in which we have sufficient cover. 'There are a number of players out with long-term injuries, while others are set to return from injury in the next few weeks or months, so they will complete their rehabilitation at their clubs and franchises. 'In terms of the other players released, we feel we have good cover in those positions at this stage, but they are all on standby to join us at any time if we need to call on them.' Read more: Balance key for Boks – Rassie Commenting on Venter's call-up, Erasmus said: 'Boan has been consistent for Edinburgh in the URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and he is familiar with the South African structures after playing for the Cheetahs and coming through our junior ranks, so we are looking forward to seeing him in action on the field.' The Boks will kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, before facing Italy in back-to-back Tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12 respectively, and Georgia in Mbombela on July 19. Springbok squad: Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Evan Roos (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks). The post Boks call up Boan as squad size reduced appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Citizen
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rassie cuts Bok squad to 45 players: Pieter-Steph, Hendrikse brothers out
There is also a surprise call-up of former Cheetahs and current Edinburgh prop Boan Venter. Edinburgh prop Boan Venter, who formerly played for the Cheetahs, has received a call-up to the Springbok squad for the match against the Barbarians and the Tests against Georgia and Italy next month. The 28-year-old wasn't part of the two alignments camps hosted by coach Rassie Erasmus earlier this year and has never been a member of a Bok squad. Erasmus on Sunday cut his training squad from 55 players to 45 for the upcoming matches. With props Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu among six players released from the initial squad due to injuries, Erasmus drafted in Venter – a member of the Junior Springbok training group in 2017 – as the only new addition to his squad. The other injured players released from the squad are Lukhanyo Am (centre), Pieter-Steph du Toit (utility forward), Cameron Hanekom, and Juarno Augustus (both No 8s), while another five players — Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf), Jordan Hendrikse (flyhalf), Quan Horn (fullback), Renzo du Plessis (flanker), and Ntokozo Makhaza (utility back) — have also been released to their unions. Edinburgh's Boan Venter has been called up to the Bok squad. Picture: Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images Arrivals for Test season The majority of the squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon to continue their preparations for the season, while the Bulls players, who battled it out with Leinster in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final on Saturday, will join their teammates on Monday evening, and RG Snyman on Tuesday afternoon. The Premiership final players, Handre Pollard and Thomas du Toit, meanwhile, will report for duty this Monday and next Monday (initially for three days) respectively, while Venter will join the squad on Sunday 29 June. 'Our first week of training went well, and it offered us a chance to assess our depth and measure the level at which the players are currently, with an eye on the international season,' said Erasmus. 'We also took stock of the injuries and determined in which positions we needed cover, as well as those in which we have sufficient cover. 'There are a number of players out with long-term injuries, while others are set to return from injury in the next few weeks or months, so they will complete their rehabilitation at their clubs and franchises. 'In terms of the other players released, we feel we have good cover in those positions at this stage, but they are all on standby to join us at any time if we need to call on them.' Commenting on Venter's call-up, Erasmus said: 'Boan has been consistent for Edinburgh in the URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and he is familiar with the South African structures after playing for the Cheetahs and coming through our junior ranks, so we are looking forward to seeing him in action on the field.' The Springboks will kick off their season with a match against the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday 28 June. Springbok squad: Forwards: Lood de Jager, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Stade, Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Jasper Wiese Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams
