# 2024–25 Bulls season

The 2024–25 season is 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 will also participate 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

## Senior squad

The Bulls squad for the 2024–25 United Rugby Championship is.
| Bulls United Rugby Championship squad |
| Props Francois Klopper Sebastian Lombard Wilco Louw Simphiwe Matanzima Khutha Mchunu Tielman Nieuwoudt Dylan Smith Mornay Smith Gerhard Steenekamp Alulutho Tshakweni Jacques van Rooyen Hookers Johan Grobbelaar Tiaan Lange Akker van der Merwe Joe van Zyl Jan-Hendrik Wessels Locks Reinhardt Ludwig Sintu Manjezi Ruan Nortjé (cc) JF van Heerden Ruan Vermaak Cobus Wiese | Loose forwards Cyle Brink Nizaam Carr Marcell Coetzee (cc) Mpilo Gumede Cameron Hanekom Jannes Kirsten Elrigh Louw Mihlali Mosi Muller Uys Marco van Staden Nama Xaba Scrum-halves Zak Burger Keagan Johannes Embrose Papier Bernard van der Linde Fly-halves Boeta Chamberlain Johan Goosen Jaco van der Walt | Centres Sebastian de Klerk Stedman Gans Cornal Hendricks Henry Immelman David Kriel Lionel Mapoe Chris Smit Cornel Smit Harold Vorster Outside backs Kurt-Lee Arendse Aphiwe Dyantyi Stravino Jacobs Willie le Roux Canan Moodie Sibongile Novuka Sergeal Petersen Devon Williams |
| (cx) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, $^{ST}$ denotes a short-term signing. |

## Results
### United Rugby Championship
#### Main table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leinster | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 360 | 166 | +194 | 52 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 57 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 353 | 225 | +128 | 53 | 29 | 8 | 4 | 44 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 3 | Bulls | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 316 | 249 | +67 | 41 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 41 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 4 | Sharks | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 288 | 287 | +1 | 36 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 34 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 5 | Munster | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 287 | 294 | −7 | 46 | 41 | 8 | 1 | 33 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 6 | Cardiff | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 263 | 321 | −58 | 41 | 44 | 7 | 2 | 31 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 7 | Edinburgh | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 295 | 300 | −5 | 41 | 41 | 5 | 5 | 30 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 8 | Connacht | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 277 | 296 | −19 | 42 | 38 | 6 | 3 | 29 | Play-offs & Berth in the 2024–25 Champions Cup |
| 9 | Lions | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 258 | 244 | +14 | 33 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 10 | Scarlets | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 271 | 255 | +16 | 29 | 36 | 2 | 4 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 11 | Ospreys | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 258 | 258 | 0 | 34 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 12 | Stormers | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 272 | 293 | −21 | 34 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 13 | Benetton | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 251 | 317 | −66 | 31 | 44 | 5 | 1 | 28 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 14 | Ulster | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 269 | 294 | −25 | 39 | 42 | 3 | 4 | 27 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 15 | Zebre Parma | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 196 | 268 | −72 | 25 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 25 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |
| 16 | Dragons | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 226 | 374 | −148 | 28 | 53 | 1 | 3 | 8 | Berth in the 2024–25 Challenge Cup |

#### South African shield

2024–25 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools
view · watch · · discuss :
| South African Shield |||||||||||||||
| | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | Pos overall |
| 1 | Stormers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 142 | 130 | +12 | 19 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 18 | - |
| 2 | Bulls | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 151 | 141 | +10 | 19 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 17 | - |
| 3 | Sharks | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 104 | 113 | -9 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 14 | - |
| 4 | Lions | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 119 | 132 | -13 | 16 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 9 | - |
| If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received 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 |||||||||||||||

### 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 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 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 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' | Report | Try: 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 17:00
| Bulls | v | Stormers |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

### Round 13

* 22 March 2025 17:00
| Bulls | v | Leinster |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

### Round 14

* 29 March 2025 14:45
| Bulls | v | Zebre Parma |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

### Round 15

* 19 April 2025 17:15
| Munster | v | Bulls |
* Thomond Park, Limerick

### Round 16

* 25 April 2025 19:35
| Glasgow Warriors | v | Bulls |
* Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

### Round 17

* 10 May 2025 16:45
| Bulls | v | Cardiff |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

### Round 18

* 17 May 2025 15:00
| Bulls | v | Dragons |
* Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

### European competition

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3 :
| Pos | Teamvte | 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 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 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 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 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 | |

#### 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' | Report | Try: 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' | Report | Try: 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' | Report | Try: 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' | Report | Try: Macalou 23' c Con: Carbonel (1/1) 24' |
* Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Attendance: 10,369 Referee: Adam Leal (England)

#### European Rugby Challenge Cup : Round of 16

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.
* 5 April 2025 13:30
| Bayonne (6) | v | (11) Bulls |
* Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne

## Home attendance

As of 26 February 2025
| Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | Domestic League | European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup | Total | 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 | 4 | 52,627 | 13,132 | 23,307 | 5,500 | 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup | 2 | 23,918 | 11,959 | 13,549 | 10,369 | 76,525 | 12,754 |