No fewer than six of the players who starred for the Junior Springboks in winning the U-20 World
Championship and four Springboks are among those named today in coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s
Vodacom Bulls squad for the Carling Currie Cup.
The robust health of the club’s junior pathways is further reflected in another 10 players being under
21, which signals both ambition and confidence on the part of Nomlomo and his coaching team.
Thus, more than 50 percent of the squad (excluding the injured list) is comprised of club and u-21
players.
Former SA u-20 player Nama Xaba, a flanker, will captain the side this season.
Ahead of this weekend’s start against Western Province in Cape Town, Nomlomo hailed South
African rugby’s oldest competition as a “great opportunity for the players to go out and do their best
for themselves and the jersey”.
He said he was excited that incoming Vodacom Bulls URC coach Johan Ackermann would be able to
see the Currie Cup squad first hand, and to run the rule over the depth at Loftus Versfeld.
“They’ve put in the work,” said Nomlomo, who is under no illusions as to the strength of the
competition. “There’s massive competition for places, so I’m looking forward to what unfolds.”
The world champion Junior Boks who will wear Vodacom Bulls colours are Esethu Mnebelele,
Jacobus Grobbelaar, Jean Erasmus, JJ Theron, Cheswill Jooste and Demitre Erasmus.
Vodacom Bulls – 2025 Carling Currie Cup Final Squad
Forwards:
Abri vd Westhuysen; Cassie Badenhorst; Dylan de Leeuw; Dylan Smith; Esethu Mnebelele; Francois
Klopper; Jacobus Grobbelaar; Jean Erasmus; Jeandre Rudolph; JJ Theron; Joe van Zyl; Junior
Pokomela; Lizo Gqoboka; Marco Ferreira; Marvin Orie; Nama Xaba (captain); Ruan Swart; Shaun
Schurmann; Sintu Manjezi.
Backs:
Boeta Chamberlain; Brooklyn Newmann; Cheswill Jooste; Chris Barend Smit; Daimon O’Connell;
Demitre Erasmus; Henry Immelman; Jaco vd Walt; Katlego Letebele; Liam Koen; PA van Niekerk;
Riyaad Bam; Stedman Gans; Steven Nel; Stravino Jacobs; Zak Burger.
