2024–25 Bulls (rugby union) season

Bulls
Full name	Bulls
Union	SARU
Emblem(s)	Barberton Daisy, Bull
Founded	1938 (Northern Transvaal Rugby Union) ; 1997 (Bulls franchise)
Location	Pretoria, South Africa
Region	Gauteng
Ground	Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Capacity: 51,762)
Director of Rugby	Jake White
Coach	Jake White
Captain(s)	Marcell Coetzee ; Ruan Nortjé
League(s)	United Rugby Championship; European Rugby Champions Cup
2024–25	URC: Runners-up ; South African Shield: 3rd ; Ladder : 2nd
1st kit	2nd kit
Official website
	bullsrugby.co.za
	Current season
← 2023–24	2025–26 →

The 2024–25 season was the Bulls' fourth season in the United Rugby Championship, their 30th season of professional rugby. Along with competing in the URC and its South African Shield competition, the club also participated in the 2024-25 European Rugby Champions Cup. Following the pool stage, the Bulls entered the Round of 16 in the 2024-25 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

The Bulls reached their third URC Grand Final, but for the third time were on the wrong end of the scoreline, as they lost 32–7 to Leinster at Croke Park.

The Bulls drew an average home attendance of 14,245 in the 2024-25 URC season.^[1]

Senior squad

The Bulls squad for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship is.

Bulls United Rugby Championship squad
Props Francois Klopper Sebastian Lombard Wilco Louw Simphiwe Matanzima Khutha Mchunu Tielman Nieuwoudt Dylan Smith Mornay Smith Gerhard Steenekamp Alulutho Tshakweni Jacques van Rooyen Hookers Johan Grobbelaar Tiaan Lange Akker van der Merwe Joe van Zyl Jan-Hendrik Wessels Locks Reinhardt Ludwig Sintu Manjezi Ruan Nortjé (cc) JF van Heerden Ruan Vermaak Cobus Wiese	Loose forwards Cyle Brink Nizaam Carr Marcell Coetzee (cc) Mpilo Gumede Cameron Hanekom Jannes Kirsten Elrigh Louw Mihlali Mosi Muller Uys Marco van Staden Nama Xaba Scrum-halves Zak Burger Keagan Johannes Embrose Papier Bernard van der Linde Fly-halves Boeta Chamberlain Johan Goosen Jaco van der Walt	Centres Sebastian de Klerk Stedman Gans Cornal Hendricks Henry Immelman David Kriel Lionel Mapoe Chris Smit Cornel Smit Harold Vorster Outside backs Kurt-Lee Arendse Aphiwe Dyantyi Stravino Jacobs Willie le Roux Canan Moodie Sibongile Novuka Sergeal Petersen Devon Williams

(cx) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, ^ST denotes a short-term signing.

United Rugby Championship



URC Main table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Leinster (CH)	18	16	0	2	542	256	+286	79	35	11	1	76	Qualifies for home URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
2	Bulls (RU)	18	14	0	4	542	361	+181	71	44	9	3	68
3	Sharks	18	13	0	5	436	402	+34	55	59	7	3	62
4	Glasgow Warriors	18	11	0	7	468	327	+141	70	40	10	5	59
5	Stormers	18	10	0	8	507	418	+89	66	57	11	4	55	Qualifies for URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2025–26 Champions Cup
6	Munster	18	9	0	9	444	429	+15	67	59	11	4	51
7	Edinburgh	18	8	1	9	471	407	+64	66	57	9	6	49
8	Scarlets	18	9	1	8	427	382	+45	50	52	6	4	48
9	Cardiff	18	8	1	9	409	477	−68	63	65	10	3	47	Qualification for the 2025–26 Challenge Cup
10	Benetton	18	9	1	8	393	478	−85	50	65	7	1	46
11	Lions	18	8	0	10	402	440	−38	53	60	5	3	40
12	Ospreys	18	7	1	10	437	454	−17	60	63	6	4	40
13	Connacht	18	6	0	12	420	472	−52	64	62	9	6	39
14	Ulster	18	7	0	11	414	506	−92	59	72	5	5	38
15	Zebre Parma	18	5	1	12	302	503	−201	38	72	3	4	29
16	Dragons	18	1	0	17	335	637	−302	43	92	1	4	9

Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.^[2]

Round 1

The first-round game between Stormers and Bulls was rearranged for 8 February 2025, during the international break for the Northern Hemisphere sides.

8 February 2025
13:00

(2 BP) Stormers	32–33	Bulls (1 BP)

Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 47,171

Round 2

28 September 2024
15:00

Bulls	22–16	Edinburgh (1 BP)
Try: Kirsten 29' c van der Walt 32' m Moodie 63' c Con: van der Walt (1/2) 29' Chamberlain (1/1) 65' Pen: Chamberlain (1/1) 68'		Try: Ashman 38' c Con: Thompson (1/1) 40' Pen: Thompson (3/3) 14', 47', 74'

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 5,500^[3]
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)

Round 3

5 October 2024
16:00

(1 BP) Bulls	47–21	Ulster
Try: Arendse 5' c Kriel 13' c Grobbelaar 33' c Moodie 41' c Hanekom 55' m Chamberlain 60' c E. Louw 77' c Con: Chamberlain (3) 6', 14', 34' Kriel (2) 42', 61' Johannes 78'		Try: Stockdale 8' c Carson 68' c Moore 71' c Con: Doak (1/1) 9' Humphreys (2/2) 69', 72'

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 6,319
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Round 4

12 October 2024
19:35

Ospreys	19–29	Bulls (1 BP)
Try: Lake 26' m Conbeer 54' c Morris 79' c Con: Edwards (1/2) 55' Walsh (1/1) 79'		Try: E. Louw 2' c' Arendse (2) 10' m, 22' c Papier 12' c Con: Chamberlain (3/4) 3', 13', 23' Pen: Chamberlain 76'

Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 3,901^[4]
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Round 5

18 October 2024
19:35

Scarlets	23–22	Bulls (1 BP)
Try: Macleod 11' c Murray 41' m Rogers 71' m Con: Lloyd 12' Pen: Lloyd (2) 40', 52'		Try: Moodie 1' c Burger 15' m Arendse 29' c Con: Chamberlain 2', 30' Pen: Chamberlain 49'

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Attendance: 5,274^[5]
Referee: Federico Vedovelli, Italy

Round 6

25 October 2024
19:35

(1 BP) Benetton	15–17	Bulls
Pen: Albornoz (4) 1', 34', 62', 72' Smith 3'		Try: Ludwig 67' c van der Merwe 77' c Con: Kriel (2/2) 68', 79' Pen: Johannes 22'

Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Attendance: 4,312
Referee: Eoghan Cross, Ireland

Round 7

30 November 2024
17:30

Connacht	14–28	Bulls (1 BP)
Try: Hawkshaw 61' c Blade 74'c Con: Forde (2/2) 62', 75'		Try: de Klerk 5' c Papier 35' c Kriel 41' c Moodie 54' c Con: Goosen (4/4) 6', 37', 42', 55'

The Sportsground, Galway
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Round 8

21 December 2024
17:00

Sharks	20–17	Bulls (1 BP)
Try: Ja. Hendrikse 18' c penalty try Con: Jo. Hendrikse (1/1) 19' Pen: Jo. Hendrikse (2) 6', 69'	Report	Try: Wiese 24' c Vorster 28' c penalty try 52' Con: Goosen (2/2) 24', 28' Pen: Goosen (2) 47', 52'

Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 34,827
Referee: Morné Ferreira, South Africa

Round 9

22 February 2025
rearranged
14:00

Bulls	31-19	Lions

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 17,501

Round 10

25 January 2025
14:45

Lions	22–35	Bulls
Try: van Wyk 33' m Oosthuizen 61' m Pen: Francis (4) 19', 28', 46', 52'		Try: Kriel 15' c Wiese 54' c Coetzee 65' c van der Merwe 69' m Con: Chamberlain 15' Kriel (2/3) 54', 66' Pen: Chamberlain (2) 9', 50' Kriel 58'

Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 19 881
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Round 11

15 February 2025
17:00

Bulls	19–29	Sharks (1 BP)

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Attendance: 23,307

Round 12

1 March 2025	(1 BP) Bulls	16–19	Stormers	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
17:00	Try: Vermaak 60' c Con: Kriel (1/1) 61' Pen: Kriel (3) 5', 24', 26'	Report	Try: Simelane 67' c Con: Matthee (1/1) 68' Pen: Matthee (4) 1', 15', 32', 37'	Attendance: 34,225

Round 13

22 March 2025	Bulls	21-20	Leinster (1 BP)	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
17:00	Try: Grobbelaar, 70' penalty try (7), 57' Pen: Johannes, 2', 40' Kriel,	Report	Try: Berrett, 3'c Osborne, 43'c Con: H Byrne, (2) Pen: H Byrne, 4'. 44' 80+4'	Attendance: 15,299 Referee: Ben Whitehouse

Round 14

29 March 2025	(1 BP) Bulls	63-24	Zebre Parma	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
14:45	Try: Petersen, 3', 73' Burger, 13' Jacobs, 30' Wessels, 36' v. Staden, 47' Coetzee, 59' Vorster, 65' Kriel, 75' Con: Johannes, 4', 14', 31', 37', 48', 60', 66' Chamberlain, 74', 76'	Report:ESPN	Try: Trulla, 20' Montemauri, 41' Bartolomeo, 57' Con: Montemauri, 20', 41' Da Re, 58' Drop: Alessandro Fusco, 27'	Attendance: 7,673

Round 15

19 April 2025	(1 BP) Munster	13 - 16	Bulls	Thomond Park, Limerick
17:15	Try: Abrahams, 37' Con: Crowley, 38' Pen: Crowley, 9', 51'	Report	Try: Coetzee,16' Con: Goosen, 16' Pen: Goosen, 23', 49' Johannes, 73'	Attendance: 14,733 Referee: Andrea Piardi

Round 16

25 April 2025	(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors	19 – 26	Bulls	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
19:35	Try: Dobie, 34' Steyn. 77' McDowall, 79' Con: Horne, 38', 80'	Report, 2	Try: Greobbelaar, 52' Kriel, 59' Con: Goosen, 53', 60' Pen: Goosen , 17', 24', 40', 55'	Attendance: 7,431 Referee: Andrew Brace

Round 17

10 May 2025	(1 BP) Bulls	45–21	Cardiff	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
16:45	Try: Vorster, 7' Louw, 16' Moodie, 21' Hanekom, 38' de Klerk, 42', 52' Con: Goosen, 8' Johannes, 17', 22', 39', 43', 53' Pen: Goosen, 3'		Try: Mann, 47' T Williams, 72' Hamer-Webb, 76' Con: B Thomas, 48', 73', 77'	Attendance: 11,497

Round 18

17 May 2025	(1 BP) Bulls	55–15	Dragons	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
15:00	Try: Kriel, 5' Wises, 8' de Klerk, 22' v.d. Merwe, 40', 51' Petersen, 58', 62' Coetzee, 64' Williams, 69' Con: Johannes, 9', 23', 41', 58', 65', 70' (6/9)	Report, 2	Try: Anderson, 43' Williams, 49' Morgan, 75'	Attendance: 6,836^[6]

Play-offs

Bracket

Quarter-finals			Semi-finals			Final

1	Leinster	33

8	Scarlets	21
			1	Leinster	37

			4	Glasgow Warriors	19
4	Glasgow Warriors	36

5	Stormers	18
						1	Leinster	32

						2	Bulls	7
3	Sharks	24 ⁽⁶⁾

6	Munster	24 ⁽⁴⁾
			2	Bulls	25

			3	Sharks	13
2	Bulls	42

7	Edinburgh	33

Quarter-final

31 May 2025	Bulls	42–33	Edinburgh	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
12:30pm	Try: Hanekom, 19' Kriel, 32' Vorster, 37' Moodie, 43' Johannes, 47' Nortjé, 52' Con: Johannes, 44', 48', 53' Pen: Johannes, 11', 62' Cards: de Klerk, 3' to 13' v. Heerden, 59' to 69'		Try: Goosen, 5', 64' Thompson, 14', 29' Ashman, 59' Con: Thompson, 6', 15', 30', 60' Cards: Thompson, 61' to 71'	Attendance: 20,056

Semi-final

Victory against Edinburgh won the Bulls a home semi-final against fellow South Africans, Sharks.

7 June 2025	Bulls	25–13	Sharks	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
	Try: de Klerk, 8' Moodie, 22' Kriel, 67' Con: Goosen, 9' Johannes, 68' Pen: Goosen, 36' Johannes, 57'	Report	Try: Mapimpi, 45' Hooker, 53' Con: Jordan Hendrikse, 27'	Attendance: 47,214

Grand Final

For the first time since it became the United Rugby Championship, the highest seeded team made the final, and faced the second seed, as all six knockout matches were won by the team with home advantage. Leinster hosted the Bulls in Croke Park, the first URC final to be held outside South Africa, and the first appearance of Leinster in a final since the format began. Bulls reached a record third final. Both teams needed their first URC title, although it would be Leinster's ninth total championship in all formats of the competition. and their twelfth play-off Grand Final, while the Bulls carried three championships from their previous competition, Super Rugby. This final was the first between the two teams.

In their previous meeting this season, in Round 13, Bulls inflicted the first defeat of the season across all competitions on Leinster, 21–20 in Pretoria. In all previous URC meetings going back to 2021, Bulls lead Leinster four wins to two, including both previous play-off meetings.

In the final, Leinster proved much too strong for the Bulls in wet conditions, racing to a 19–0 lead at half time. A Bulls try early in the second half briefly raised hopes of a comeback, but Leinster saw out a dominant win with a further try and two penalties, confirming a 32–7 win for their ninth championship in total. The Bulls were consigned to a third URC final defeat in four years.

14 June 2025	Leinster	32–7	Bulls	Croke Park, Dublin
	Try: Conan 6' Barrett 14' Van der Flier 23' Gunne 73' Con: Prendergast 7', 14' Byrne 74' Pen: Prendergast 45', 68'		Try: Van der Merwe 51' Con: Goosen 51'	Attendance: 46,127 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)^[7]

URC South African Shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools

view · watch · edit · discuss

South African Shield

Team

P

W

D

L

PF

PA

PD

TF

TA

TBP

LBP

Pts

Pos overall

1

Sharks (S)

6

4

0

2

129

135

−6

17

20

2

1

19

3

2

Stormers

6

3

0

3

142

130

+12

19

15

3

18

5

3

Bulls

6

3

0

3

151

141

+10

19

17

3

2

17

2

4

Lions

6

2

0

4

141

157

−16

19

22

1

10

11

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:^[8]

number of matches won
the difference between points for and points against
the number of tries scored
the most points scored
the difference between tries for and tries against
the fewest red cards received
the fewest yellow cards received

Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European competition

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3
Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Northampton Saints (3)	4	3	1	137	106	+31	20	15	4	0	16	Home Champions Cup round of 16
2	Castres (6)	4	3	1	105	86	+19	13	13	2	0	14	Home Champions Cup round of 16
3	Munster (9)	4	2	2	96	69	+27	13	7	2	2	12	Away Champions Cup round of 16
4	Saracens (13)	4	2	2	91	71	+20	11	9	2	1	11	Away Champions Cup round of 16
5	Bulls (11CC)	4	1	3	84	113	−29	12	15	1	0	5	Away Challenge Cup round of 16
6	Stade Français	4	1	3	76	144	−68	11	21	1	0	5

Source: EPCR^[9]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

European Rugby Champions Cup : Pool matches

Round 1

7 December 2024
17:30

(1 BP) Saracens	27–5	Bulls
Try: Carré 22' m George 48' c Willis 56' c Earl 64' m Con: Burke (2/4) 49', 57' Pen: Burke (1/2) 35'	Report	Try: de Klerk 10' m

StoneX Stadium, London
Attendance: 9,035
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

Round 2

14 December 2024
13:00

Bulls	21–30	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: Coetzee 34' c Hanekom (2) 61' c, 69' c Con: Goosen (3/3) 35', 61', 70'	Report	Try: Hendy 31' m Augustus 40' c Freeman (2) 59' c, 76' m Con: F. Smith (2/4) 40+1', 59' Pen: F. Smith (2/2) 57', 72'

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Attendance: 13,549
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)

Round 3

11 January 2025
20:00

(1 BP) Castres	49–10	Bulls
Try: Palis 17' c Baget (3) 63' c, 73' m, 78' c Dumora 70' c Goodhue 75' c Con: Fernandez (2/2) 18', 64' Popelin (3/4) 71', 76', 79' Pen: Fernandez (3/3) 31', 45', 57'	Report	Try: Wessels 6' c Con: Chamberlain (1/1) 7' Pen: van der Walt (1/1) 53'

Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres
Attendance: 9,876
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Round 4

18 January 2025
13:00

(1 BP) Bulls	48–7	Stade Français
Try: Penalty try 2' Williams 12’ c Papier 17’ c Vermaak 26’ m E. Louw 38’ c Chamberlain 46’ c Hanekom 50’ m Con: Goosen (2/3) 13', 18' Chamberlain (2/3) 39', 47' Pen: Chamberlain (1/1) 34'	Report	Try: Macalou 23' c Con: Carbonel (1/1) 24'

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Attendance: 10,369
Referee: Adam Leal (England)

Play-offs

Bracket

Round of 16			Quarter-finals			Semi-finals			Final

3	Edinburgh	24

14	Lions	12
			3	Edinburgh	34

			11	Bulls	28
6	Bayonne	22

11	Bulls	32
						3	Edinburgh	24

						10	Bath Rugby	39
7	Pau	24

10	Bath Rugby	49
			10	Bath Rugby	61

			15	Gloucester	26
2	Montpellier	17

15	Gloucester	24
									10	Bath Rugby	37

									5	Lyon	12
4	Ospreys	36

13	Scarlets	14
			4	Ospreys	18

			5	Lyon	20
5	Lyon	34

12	Sharks	21
						5	Lyon	29

						9	Racing 92	15
1	Connacht	35

16	Cardiff	20
			1	Connacht	40

			9	Racing 92	43
8	Perpignan	18

9	Racing 92	24

Following the group stages of the Champions Cup, Bulls, who finished fifth in their pool dropped down to the Round of 16 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. They were designated the eleventh seed and were drawn away against French side Bayonne.

Round of 16

5 April 2025
13:30

Bayonne (6)	22–32	(11) Bulls
Try: Mori 32’ m Bourdeau 48’ c Spring 75’ c Con: Spring (1/1) 49' Tiberghien (1/1) 76' Pen: Germain (1/1) 5'	Report	Try: Petersen 15’ m Ludwig 38’ c Kriel 44’ c van Staden 67’ c Con: Johannes (2/3) 39', 45' Goosen (1/1) Pen: Johannes (1/1) 14' Goosen (1/1) 80'

Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
Attendance: 10,675
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)

Quarter-final

12 April 2025
12:30

Edinburgh (3)	34–28	(11) Bulls
Try: Lang, 3’, 24' Bradbury, 13’ Gilchrist, 42’ Con: Thompson (4/4), 4', 14', 25', 43' Pen: Thompson, 37', 59'	Report	Try: Kriel, 16', 76' penalty try, 46' Hanekom, 49' Con: Johannes (1/1) , 17' Goosen (2/2), 50', 76'

Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 4,737
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)

Bulls are eliminated from the competition.

Home attendance

As of 31 May 2025

League	Fixtures	Total Attendance	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	League	Fixtures	Total Attendance	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	Total Attendance	Average Attendance
Domestic League						European Challenge Cup						Total
2024–25 United Rugby Championship	11	195,427	17,766	47,214	5,500	2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup	2	23,918	11,959	13,549	10,369	219,345	16,872

References

↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2025/04/04/in-another-staggered-season-rugbys-urc-has-lurched-along-all-the-while-breaking-attendance-records/
↑ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
↑ "Everitt: Accuracy is letting us down", The Rugby Paper, 29 Sep 2024
↑ "Ospreys Fixtures & Results"
↑ "Scarlets Fixtures & Results"
↑ Websites - 3bit.co.uk, We Build. "Dragon News : Dragons defeated by Bulls on final day". www.dragonsrfc.wales. Retrieved 2025-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ "URC Grand Final Match Official Appointments". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
↑ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
↑ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.

External links

[1] ttps://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2025/04/04/in-another-staggered-season-rugbys-urc-has-lurched-along-all-the-while-breaking-attendance-records/

[2] "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.

[3] "Everitt: Accuracy is letting us down", The Rugby Paper, 29 Sep 2024

[wru2-4] "Ospreys Fixtures & Results"

[wru3-5] "Scarlets Fixtures & Results"

[6] Websites - 3bit.co.uk, We Build. "Dragon News : Dragons defeated by Bulls on final day". www.dragonsrfc.wales. Retrieved 2025-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[7] "URC Grand Final Match Official Appointments". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 2025-06-10.

[8] League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.

[9] "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.

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