Bulls name 32-man squad with 17 Springboks for URC final

The Vodacom Bulls have named a full-strength 32-man squad for the United Rugby Championship final against Leinster, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch in Dublin next Friday. Head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed the traveling roster, which includes 17 capped Springboks and departs for Ireland on Monday evening.

The final, scheduled for June 19 at Croke Park, is a repeat of last year’s decider, which Leinster won 32-7. The Pretoria-based franchise secured its place after a narrow 22-21 semifinal victory over the Glasgow Warriors in Edinburgh. Ackermann reported no new injury concerns and expects to welcome back several players who missed the semifinal. Key figures Marcell Coetzee and Elrigh Louw, who had minor shoulder and foot concerns, are both fit to travel. Coetzee, who earned his 100th Bulls cap in the semifinal, is expected to lead the side.

The squad is built around a core of experienced internationals, including World Cup winners Handré Pollard, Willie le Roux, and Kurt-Lee Arendse. They are complemented by emerging talents like last season’s URC NextGen Player of the Year, Cameron Hanekom, and Junior Springbok star Cheswill Jooste. Ackermann highlighted the...