New recruit Bismarck du Plessis has been included in the Vodacom Bulls squad that will be jetting out on Saturday to begin a four-week tour that will start in Ireland, continue to Wales and end in Scotland.
On Friday, the Bulls named a 37-man squad for the Bulls’ opening fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Du Plessis, who joined the side earlier in the week, will be a noticeable inclusion to the squad that will also see the return of Johan Goosen, who missed the final of the domestic Carling Currie Cup.
Also in the travelling party, following a full recovery from injury, is scrumhalf Embrose Papier and Sintu Manjezi.
“We have a long and tough URC season ahead, and it will be important how we manage our squad going forward. Equally, it is important that we continue building on the winning culture we are creating at the Bulls, so it is imperative that we utilise our experienced workhorses and our exciting youngsters,” said coach Jake White.
“We are looking forward to a highly competitive opening three fixtures against Leinster, Connacht, Cardiff and Edinburgh – all quality opposition. All participating teams will be looking to start the season on a high note, and it is no different for us.”
The Vodacom Bulls’ fixtures for the tour are as follows:
Leinster Rugby – Saturday, September 25, 18h15 (SA time)
Connacht Rugby – Friday, October 1, 20h35 (SA time)
Cardiff Rugby – Saturday, October 9, 20h35 (SA time)
Edinburgh Rugby – Saturday, October 16, 18h15 (SA time)
Bulls touring squad:
Forwards: Lizo Gqoboka, Simphiwe Matanzima, Gerhard Steenekamp, Mornay Smith, Jacques van Rooyen, Robert Hunt, Bismarck du Plessis, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Joe van Zyl, Sidney Tobias, Schalk Erasmus, Walt Steenkamp, Sintu Manjezi, Reinhardt Ludwig, Ruan Nortje, Janko Swanepoel, Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques du Plessis, Muller Uys, Elrigh Louw, WJ Steenkamp
Backs: Zak Burger, Embrose Papier, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Keagan Johannes, Johan Goosen, Chris Smith, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe, Stedman Gans, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Madosh Tambwe, Stravino Jacobs, Ruan Combrinck, David Kriel
