VODACOM BULLS
29 Nov 14:00, Loftus Versfeld
Lions
MATCHDAY TEAMS
VODACOM BULLS
STARTERS
- Alu Tshakweni
- Akker van der Merwe
- Francois Klopper
- Jaco Grobbelaar
- JF van Heerden
- Jeandre Rudolph
- Reinhardt Ludwig ( Captain)
- JJ Theron
- Embrose Papier
- Keagan Johannes
- Stravino Jacobs
- Jan Serfontein
- David Kriel
- Sebastian de Klerk
- Willie le Roux
IMPACT SQUAD
- Jean Else
- Sti Sithole
- Mornay Smith
- Jaco Grobbelaar
- Elrigh Louw
- Paul de Wet
- Stedman Gans
- Cheswill Jooste
LIONS
STARTERS
- SJ Kotze
- Franco Marias
- Rf Schoeman
- Etienne Oosthuizen
- Reinhard Nothnagel
- Jarod Cairns
- Ruan Venter
- Francke Horn (Captain)
- Nico Steyn
- Chris Smith
- Eduan Keyter
- Bronson Mills
- Henco van Wyk
- Kelly Mpeku
- Quan Horn
REPLACEMENTS
- Morne Brandon
- Edward Davids
- Conrad Van Vuuren
- Darrien Landsberg
- Renzo Du Plessis
- Sibabalo Qoma / Erich Cronje
- Hassiem Pead
- Gianni Lombard
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
MATCH-UP ARTICLE
JUKSKEI DERBY REIGNITED AS VODACOM BULLS PREPARE TO STAMPEDE
The Vodacom Bulls and Lions resume hostilities this weekend in one of South African rugby’s fiercest rivalries. After several weeks of international action, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship returns with Round 6, and the Jukskei Derby promises fireworks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (2pm).
This is a fixture steeped in history, famous for its bruising battles and dramatic swings. The Bulls currently hold the upper hand, winning their last four encounters since the Lions’ shock 29-25 victory at Loftus in March 2023. In fact, the Pretoria side boasts an 80% win rate in VURC meetings between the teams, with eight wins from 10 clashes.
Form favours the Bulls again. They have won their last eight VURC home games at Loftus, while the Lions have dropped five consecutive away matches against South African opposition. Heading into this clash, the Bulls sit sixth on the table with 14 points from five games, while the Lions are eighth with 11 points.
The big news for Bulls fans is the return of Springbok powerhouse Elrigh Louw, back after a 10-month injury layoff. His presence adds muscle and leadership to a pack already brimming with confidence.
Player stats add intrigue: Lions hooker Morne Brandon leads their scoring charts with four tries and 20 points this season. In head-to-heads, David Kriel tops Bulls tries (4), with flyhalf Chris Smith leading points (37).
With Loftus Versfeld set to host another chapter in this storied rivalry, and with Louw’s return adding extra bite, expect a derby that delivers on tradition: physicality, passion, and a result that could shape the VURC standings heading into December.
Gates open at 11am with a braai zone, beer garden, DJs, mascots, giveaways, and fan challenges, creating a festival atmosphere. The derby kicks off at 2pm, followed by Springboks v Wales on the big screen at 5pm. Highlights include Oom Frik’s 90th birthday lap of honour, the LUNO Crossbar Challenge, and live music into the evening. More than rugby, it’s a full day of entertainment for families and fans alike.
