Boland Cavaliers vs Bulls Currie Cup 2026: Team News

Two long-term injury absentees are set to pull on the Boland Cavaliers jersey again on Sunday, with flyhalf Ashlon Davids and loose forward Gift Dlamini both named on the bench for the Currie Cup clash against the Vodacom Bulls XV in Wellington.

Davids has not played since suffering a knee injury in last season's Currie Cup semi-final — a long road back for a player of his influence at Boland Stadium. Dlamini's return is even more remarkable: the loose forward fractured his leg against Griquas in last year's competition and has fought his way back to fitness in time for round one.

Coach Hawies Fourie has kept faith with a settled backline built around consistency. Louis Schreuder and Chris Smit start at halfback for the fourth consecutive match together, a combination that speaks to the stability Fourie has engineered heading into the new campaign. Jayden Bantom and Xavier Mitchell take the wings, with Jurick Lewis and Lunathi Nxele continuing their midfield partnership and James Tedder at fullback.

Thurlow Marsh captains the Cavaliers from No 8, with Khwezi Mafu and Sauliegh Arendse completing the loose trio. Veteran lock Marlyn Williams is set to make his 94th appearance for Boland, partnering Jeandré Leonard in the second row. Dayan van der Westhuizen, Joshua Eras and Mthokozisi Gumede form the front row.

Hooker Llewellyn Classen also returns from injury and takes his place among the replacements, alongside debutant Johnré Stopforth who will be making his first senior appearance for the Cavaliers. Chriswill September, Davids and Domenic Smit cover the backline from the bench. The only notable absentee is flank Sibusiso Sangweni, ruled out with a minor knee injury picked up in a warm-up fixture.

Sunday's match is the Cavaliers' opening fixture of the 2026 Currie Cup Premier Division. It is a significant occasion — a home crowd in Wellington, two injury returnees hungry to prove themselves, and a Bulls XV outfit that will be no pushover. Boland will need Davids and Dlamini to hit the ground running if they are to make an immediate statement in the competition.