Pretoria, South Africa – The Vodacom Bulls have officially named their squad for the 2025 Carling Currie Cup, revealing a youthful lineup that includes six Junior Springboks who recently won the U-20 World Championship. The squad, announced on July 21, 2025, also features four senior Springboks, blending emerging talent with seasoned experience.
The team will be led by flanker Nama Xaba, a former SA U-20 player, who has been appointed as the captain for the season. The selection emphasizes the strength of the club’s junior rugby pathways, with another 10 players being under 21. This results in more than 50 percent of the squad, excluding the injured list, being comprised of club and U-21 players.
Coach Phiwe Nomlomo expressed his confidence in the selected players ahead of the season opener against Western Province in Cape Town. He 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”.
“They’ve put in the work,” said Nomlomo, who also noted the “massive competition for places”. He added that he was excited for incoming Vodacom Bulls URC coach Johan Ackermann to see the Currie Cup squad firsthand and to “run the rule over the depth at Loftus Versfeld”.
The six world champion Junior Boks set to 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.
Injured:
Aphiwe Dyantyi, Celimpilo Gumede, Corne Beets, Cornel Smit, Heinrich Theron, Juann Else, Khutha Mchunu, Nizaam Carr, Simphiwe Matanzima.
