2024–25 Bulls (rugby union) season

Bulls
Full nameBulls
Union SARU
Emblem(s)Barberton Daisy, Bull
Founded1938 (Northern Transvaal Rugby Union)
1997 (Bulls franchise)
LocationPretoria, South Africa
RegionGauteng
Ground(s)Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Capacity: 51,762)
Director of RugbyJake White
Coach(es)Jake White
Captain(s)Marcell Coetzee
Ruan Nortjé
League(s)United Rugby Championship
European Rugby Champions Cup
2024–25URC: Runners-up
South African Shield: 3rd
Ladder : 2nd
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
bullsrugby.co.za
Current season

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.

Senior squad

For player movements before or during the 2024–25 season, see List of 2024–25 United Rugby Championship transfers § Bulls.

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

Bulls United Rugby Championship squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Outside backs

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

United Rugby Championship

URC Main table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leinster 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 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.[1]


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[2]
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[3]
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[4]
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'		ReportTry: 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[5]

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

Main article: 2025 United Rugby Championship 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. 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 nineth 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: Jack Conan, 6'
Jordie Barrett, 14'
Josh van der Flier, 23'
Fintan Gunne, 73'
Con: Sam Prendergast, 7', 14'
Ross Byrne, 74'
Pen: Prendergast, 45', 68'
 Try: Akker van der Merwe, 51'
Con: Johan Goosen, 51'
 Attendance: 46,127
Referee: Andrea Piardi[6]

URC South African Shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
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 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 1 10 11
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[7]
  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
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 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Northampton Saints (3) 4 3 0 1 137 106 +31 20 15 4 0 16 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 Castres (6) 4 3 0 1 105 86 +19 13 13 2 0 14
3 Munster (9) 4 2 0 2 96 69 +27 13 7 2 2 12 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 Saracens (13) 4 2 0 2 91 71 +20 11 9 2 1 11
5 Bulls (11CC) 4 1 0 3 84 113 −29 12 15 1 0 5 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 Stade Français 4 1 0 3 76 144 −68 11 21 1 0 5
Source: EPCR[8]
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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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'		ReportTry: 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

Domestic League European Challenge Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
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

  1. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Everitt: Accuracy is letting us down", The Rugby Paper, 29 Sep 2024
  3. ^ "Ospreys Fixtures & Results"
  4. ^ "Scarlets Fixtures & Results"
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ "URC Grand Final Match Official Appointments". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  7. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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