The Bulls are one of South Africa’s finest rugby union sides. They competed in various Super Rugby tournaments between 1997 and 2020 and they’re one of the most successful sides in the history of the tournament. Not only were the Bulls Rugby team the only South African side to win a Super Rugby title, but they captured the top prize on three occasions.
Read on to discover even more about the Bulls Rugby side. On this page you can learn more about the history of the team and you can also see their latest fixtures and results.
The Bulls held a four-point advantage over the Sharks heading into the clash and they finished the job with a bonus-point victory.
It was hoped the June 19 cross-hemisphere final in Italy would salvage damaged credibility but the latest Rainbow Cup blow has been confirmed.
The Bulls are one of South Africa’s finest rugby union sides. They competed in various Super Rugby tournaments between 1997 and 2020 and they’re one of the most successful sides in the history of the tournament. Not only were the Bulls Rugby team the only South African side to win a Super Rugby title, but they captured the top prize on three occasions.
Read on to discover even more about the Bulls Rugby side. On this page you can learn more about the history of the team and you can also see their latest fixtures and results.
Super Rugby 
Super Rugby Unlocked 
Rainbow Cup South Africa 
Pro14 Rainbow Cup Super Rugby 
Super Rugby Super Rugby Unlocked Rainbow Cup South Africa Pro14 Rainbow Cup | Round 7 | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | PD | BP T | BP -7 | BP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-  Sharks | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 213 | 153 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
-  Crusaders | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 105 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
-  Brumbies | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 208 | 115 | 93 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23 |
-  Blues | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 192 | 134 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
-  Chiefs | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 194 | 128 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
-  Stormers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 118 | 94 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
-  Jaguares | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 169 | 135 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
-  Hurricanes | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 168 | 135 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
-  Rebels | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 166 | 160 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
-  Reds | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 219 | 176 | 43 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
-  Highlanders | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 91 | 163 | -72 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
-  Bulls | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 115 | 152 | -37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
-  Waratahs | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 104 | 214 | -110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
-  Lions | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 109 | 200 | -91 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
-  Sunwolves | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 101 | 292 | -191 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Round 7 |
|---|
| - Sharks |
| - Crusaders |
| - Brumbies |
| - Blues |
| - Chiefs |
| - Stormers |
| - Jaguares |
| - Hurricanes |
| - Rebels |
| - Reds |
| - Highlanders |
| - Bulls |
| - Waratahs |
| - Lions |
| - Sunwolves |
Prior to the creation of the professional Super Rugby competition, the Bulls competed as Northern Transvaal in the Super 10. In the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1993, they finished third. However, they failed to qualify for the next two editions of the tournament.
When rugby went professional in 1996, the tournament was restructured and Australia and New Zealand both created new franchises. Prior to the 1998 tournament, South Africa followed suit and the Bulls Rugby franchise was born.
Sadly, between 1998 and 2003, the Bulls Rugby team performed poorly in the competition. In fact, in 2002, they didn’t win a single game. However, two 6th place finishes in 2003 and 2004 turned the tide for the franchise.
When the Super 12 rebranded as the Super 14 in 2006, the Bulls Rugby side was transformed. Although the team lost at the semi-final stage of the inaugural season of the Super 14 tournament, they won the competition the next year. They then went on to claim back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
Sadly, the 2010 triumph was the last success for the Bulls Rugby side and they never reached the final again after the competition was rebranded as Super Rugby. However, they did win the South African conference in 2013.
In 2020, the Super Rugby season was suspended because the coronavirus pandemic prevented overseas travel. Instead, the South African sides featured in a Super Rugby Unlocked tournament, which the Bulls won. Following this, SA Rugby announced that the South African rugby franchises would be withdrawing from future Super Rugby tournaments. As a result, in 2021, the Bulls Rugby side will play in the newly-formed PRO14 Rainbow Cup before taking part in an expanded PRO16 tournament.
Jacques Van Rooyen Prop 
Lizo Gqoboka Prop 
Bradley Thyer Prop 
Johan Grobbelaar Hooker 
Janco Uys Hooker 
Corniel Els Hooker 
Nolan Pienaar Tighthead Prop 
Trevor Nyakane Prop 
Marcel Van der Merwe Prop 
Jason Jenkins Lock 
Reinhardt Ludwig Lock 4 
Juandre Kruger Lock 
Elrigh Louw Lock 
Ruan Nortje Lock 
Walt Steenkamp Lock 
Jan Uys Lock 
Werner Gouws Blindside Flanker 
Marco van Staden Flanker 6 
WJ Steenkamp Blindside Flanker 
Marcell Coetzee Flanker 6 
Arno Botha Number 8 
Nizaam Carr Number 8 
Tim Agaba Number 8 
Duane Vermeulen Number 8 
Stedman Gans 
Jan-Hendrik Wessels 
Izak Burger 
Chris Smith 
Schalk Erasmus 
Gerhard Steenekamp 
Muller Uys 
David Kriel 
Mornay Smith 
Stravino Jacobs 
James Verity-Amm 
Joe Van Zyl 
Janko Swanepoel Fullback 
Keagan Johannes Fullback 
Ivan van Zyl Scrum half 
Embrose Papier Scrum half 
Marco Jansen Van Vuuren Scrum half 
Bernard Van Der Linde Scrum Half 
Dawid Kellerman Centre 12 
Diego Appollis Centre 13 
Clinton Swart Wing 
Jade Stighling Wing 
Michael Tambwe Wing 
Jay-Cee Nel Right Wing 
Cornal Hendricks Wing 
Gio Aplon Fullback 
Morne Steyn Fullback Over the years, several stars of South African rugby have played for the Bulls Rugby franchise. They include former South Africa captain Victor Matfield, scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen and 2019 Rugby World Cup winner Handré Pollard.
Although the side have not been overly successful in recent years, the current Bulls Rugby squad still includes several established international players such as prop Trevor Nyakane, loose forward Duane Vermeulen and fly-half Morné Steyn.
