45 - 15

14 - 15

47 - 29

33 - 7

8 - 0

20 - 14

27 - 3

26 - 24

20 - 43

61 - 22

49 - 61

26 - 19

27 - 25

28 - 31

42 - 33

32 - 13

21 - 33

74 - 21

26 - 10

25 - 24

38 - 47

57 - 14

Tomorrow

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Tomorrow

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Tomorrow

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Tomorrow

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Tomorrow

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Tomorrow

09:30

Investec Champions Cup

Bok-heavy Bulls can't stop unbeaten Bristol at Loftus as losing run continues

By PA

14 hours ago

Kalaveti Ravouvou of Bristol Bears with the ball during the Investec Champions Cup match between Vodacom Bulls and Bristol Bears at Loftus Versfeld on January 10, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Bristol ran riot in a remarkable first half to secure their place in the Investec Champions Cup knockout phase with a 61-49 victory over the Bulls in Pretoria.

The South African hosts fielded 10 Springboks in their starting XV in the hope of registering a first win of the group campaign yet were still swept aside at Loftus Versfeld.

Bristol started like a freight train, running in three tries inside the opening 10 minutes and seven in total to build a interval 47-28 lead.

VIDEO

Wing Noah Heward crossed twice and there were also touch downs for Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Max Lahiff, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Kieran Marmion.

The Bulls offered more resistance in the second half but Bristol continued to fire shots with Heward completing his hat-trick, Pedro Rubiolo breaching the whitewash and Ravouvou running in his second.

A third win in as many outings in the competition lifts the Bears to the top of Pool Four above main rivals Northampton and Bordeaux, who collide at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday.

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Comments

8 Comments

Eric Elwood 9 hours ago

The straight line attacking that Bristol and Northampton use leaving the pass to the last second right at the line and then having the option out the back is simple but extremely difficult to defend against.

That said even with the terrible start Bulls could have won. It was one of those Loftus back focused matches where neither side can get a breath at altitude and hard line breaks almost resulted in ties every time. Bears got 21-22 ahead on a few occasions but at no point was the match safe. A last gasp foot trip saved Bristol from conceding a certain try.

Bears pulling a Bull one off runner over the line for a “held up” and match over shows that the Prem has moved ahead of the URC in innovation etc.

Archibald 8 hours ago

But, getting back to “the best fullback in the world” …

Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COrcGb_ViJY&t=1634s.

At 27:22 in the video and 10:34 on the game clock, the commentator says “The other young up-and-comer Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicks at the best fullback in the world”

Still lying, eh deric ol’ boy.

JJ 10 hours ago

I’ve seen harder tackling in games of touch rugby!

unknown 12 hours ago

Who said the PREM was dull! The Bears played a style of rugby that the Bulls simply couldn't live with for long periods For the neutral spectator that was one of the games of the season

fl 13 hours ago

They were in Cape Town last week so probably still jet lagged.

Once the schedule gets fixed SA teams will win every game.

Hammer Head 36 mins ago

This is true. That flight between JHB and CPT is grueling.

But don’t you think altitude was the biggest factor coming from sea-level the prior week?

1,350m. It matters.

pete 12 hours ago

Ragebait nonsense at its finest, good work

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