logo
Ackers' return: Bulls move will reignite a legacy that once roared in Jozi

Ackers' return: Bulls move will reignite a legacy that once roared in Jozi

IOL News17-07-2025
Former Lions and Gloucester Johan Ackermann was named as Bulls coach on Wednesday, replacing Jake White. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
COMMENT
On the wall of my home office – past the cluttered table, a mess of papers full of stats and books on sport – hangs a poster I designed for The Star in 2017.
It never saw the light of day. Although it was submitted to the Lions Rugby Union for consideration and use in their stadium, a simple error on our part – using 'Ellis Park' instead of 'Emirates Airline Park' – denied its presence at the Super Rugby final between the Joburgers and the Crusaders that day.
Its message was straightforward – one that recalled a glorious era in Lions history. 'Ackers, thanks for the memories,' it read, with a smiling image of Johan Ackermann in the corner and the text flowing around him on a field of red.
🚨 Official: Johan Ackermann is the new Head Coach of the Vodacom Bulls! 🐃
A former Vodacom Bulls player, Springbok and 3x SA Coach of the Year 🏆
💬 'His blood is blue.'
💬 'A dream come true.'
FULL PRESS RELEASE: https://t.co/VAd36PxWt8#ForeverBlue pic.twitter.com/6K1H7fQcV3 — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 16, 2025
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
That match – ultimately lost by the Lions – was Ackermann's final one in charge before his departure to English club Gloucester. While the build-up to the sold-out showpiece was filled with anticipation, a tinge of regret lingered deep within the Pride's collective gut.
Under Ackermann, the Lions had returned to the fore of South African rugby. He took a group of misfits and, alongside Swys de Bruin, moulded them into something quite extraordinary. He led the Lions to an emphatic Currie Cup title in 2015 and two consecutive Super Rugby finals.
For his efforts, he was named SA Rugby Coach of the Year three times.
I would argue that he changed the way South African franchises approached the game. And although nearly a decade has passed since his departure from Doornfontein, his influence still hangs like a spectre in those halls – a ghostly reminder of the identity the Lions are still chasing.
Ackermann's legacy transcends the Lions. Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Elton Jantjies and Faf de Klerk – all stars of the double World Cup-winning Springbok era – are products of the Ackermann system.
The poster that never saw the light of day in 2017 heralding Johan Ackermann's tenure at the Lions Rugby Union. Photo: Morgan Bolton
Image: Morgan Bolton
So, it was with great interest that we learned on Wednesday of his return to the local game – as head coach of the Bulls, no less, after the sudden exit of Jake White. The were murmurs, of course, that this would be the case, so it was not a complete surprise.
Nevertheless Ackermann, capped 13 times for the Springboks, began his playing career in Pretoria before stints with the Lions and Sharks. In that sense, this move feels like a natural return.
'He's the right person at the right time,' said Willem Strauss, president of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, via a statement.
'This was always meant to be,' Strauss added. 'His management of people and ability to drive culture are renowned.'
It was a sentiment echoed by Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone: 'Ackermann is not just an outstanding coach; he is a leader who lives and breathes the values of this union.
'His reputation for forging powerful team cultures, developing players to their full potential, and delivering results at the highest level, is well proven.'
Few would disagree. Lions fans certainly wouldn't.
Unlike previous roles, where he had to build a team, instill a culture, and implement a playing philosophy, the Bulls already offer him a robust foundation. He inherits a squad packed with talent – Springboks like Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ruan Nortjé, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein, Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
If Ackermann can get the old guard to buy in and the new blood to follow, there's every reason to believe the Bulls will continue to dominate in South Africa, the United Rugby Championship, and even the understated pan-European competitions.
His recent labours with the Baby Boks as a consultant, are a clear indication of his impact.
'The Bulls are already there – now I must make them grow and succeed even more,' Ackermann said, also in the statement, and who would bet against him doing just that.
So, while we should all be thrilled to see his expertise return to our shores, there's a part of me that aches. As a Lions fan, I can't help but feel a pang of loss – not just for what was, but for what could have been had he stayed.
But as a rugby man, I know this is the right call. Ackermann's return to Pretoria isn't just a full-circle moment – it's a timely one. The Bulls have the talent. Now, they have a reinvigorated vision to look forward to.
He built something beautiful in Johannesburg. Now he has the chance to finish the job – this time, in blue.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bafana Bafana squad for CHAN tournament announced
Bafana Bafana squad for CHAN tournament announced

The South African

time4 hours ago

  • The South African

Bafana Bafana squad for CHAN tournament announced

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has published Bafana Bafana's squad that will play in the CHAN tournament. The 2024 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament will be played from 2-30 August in East Africa. The finals will be hosted in three different countries – Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda – to see their readiness for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). It will be the first time three different countries get to host this tournament at the same time. The opening match will be played in Tanzania while the third/fourth playoff will be staged in Uganda. Kenya will host the final. Now, coach Molefi Ntseki has opted for experience more than anything, giving the majority of unattached local players a chance in his Bafana Bafana squad. The likes of Zakhele Lepasa, Keagan Dolly, Phillip Ndlondlo who recently parted ways with Pirates, Wayde Jooste, Rowan Human and Thabiso Kutumela have made the cut. Ntseki included FIVE Mamelodi Sundowns players in Neo Maema, Terrence Mashego, Malibongwe Khoza, Kegan Johannes and Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi. It is unclear as to whether or not the five players are in Miguel Cardoso's plans for the upcoming season which gets underway on 1 August. Bafana Bafana squad for CHAN finals. Image: @BafanaBafana/X Bafana Bafana are in Group C alongside co-hosts Uganda, Niger, Guinea and Algeria. Group A consists of co-hosts Kenya, Morocco, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. Finally, Group B has Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Bayanda Walaza claims Universiade sprint double; last-gasp gold for Smith
Bayanda Walaza claims Universiade sprint double; last-gasp gold for Smith

TimesLIVE

time4 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Bayanda Walaza claims Universiade sprint double; last-gasp gold for Smith

Bayanda Walaza claimed the sprint double at the World Student Games in Germany on Thursday as he lifted the 200m crown to add to the 100m title he won earlier in the week. His performance concluded a dramatic night of track and field for South Africa where Aiden Smith snatched the shot-put gold with his final throw of the competition. Walaza, the double sprint king from the 2024 under-20 world championships in Peru, exploded out the blocks with his trademark lightning start and he worked that advantage through the bend into the home straight where he kept his lead to cross the line in 20.63sec, seven-hundredths of a second in front of Spaniard Adria Medero. It was 12 years since Anaso Jobodwana won South Africa's first Universiade sprint double. In the men's shot put, left-handed Smith was languishing well outside the top three with a best throw of 19.23 when he stepped into the circle for his final throw of the night, finding more than an extra metre to claim first place at the death. The mixed 4x400m relay team of Mthi Mthimkulu, Precious Molepo, men's 400m champion Lythe Pillay and Marlie Viljoen won silver ahead of the US, clocking 3min 16.42sec as they ended behind Poland. And Mondray Barnard bagged third place in the men's 110m hurdles in 13.59sec to miss silver by a few thousandths of a second. Earlier, Walaza won his 200m semifinal in 20.76, just one hundredth of a second in front of Medero. It was the second fastest time of the semifinals, with Korean Lee placing first in his heat in 20.73. But it was the South African who found the right gears in the final. Colette Uys, bronze medallist in the women's shot put, ended sixth in the women's discus with a best release of 57.50m. Charné Swart-Du Plessis was sixth in the women's 800m. In the women's 400m hurdles, Hannah van Niekerk was unable to keep up with the leaders of a fast race, slipping back to seventh in 58.02. Even the 56.16 personal best she set earlier in the competition would have earned her only fifth spot. Karmen Fouche ended eighth in the women's hepthathlon, matching the position her mother Maralize Visser achieved at the 1997 edition of this showpiece in Sicily, with fewer than 20 points separating them. Fouche amassed 5,783 and Visser 5,765. Gabriella Marais, who won the women's 100m bronze, was unable to progress beyond the semifinals of the women's 200m. South Africa was lying seventh on the medals table with 16 medals, comprising six gold, three silver and seven bronze.

'Rich Hilton College parents': TikToker mocks SA's most expensive school
'Rich Hilton College parents': TikToker mocks SA's most expensive school

The South African

time5 hours ago

  • The South African

'Rich Hilton College parents': TikToker mocks SA's most expensive school

A popular schoolboy rugby TikTok account has mocked the parents of Hilton College, who recently came under fire over their 'flashy' display of wealth at a recent derby day. The KwaZulu-Natal boarding school is the most expensive school in South Africa, with an annual tuition of close to half a million rand. On TikTok, the popular fitness and schoolboy rugby account @adafitfans took a jab at Hilton College's recent headlines. The account posted an AI-generated skit of parents of the most expensive school bragging about splurging cash on designer tents, helicopters, and even comparing themselves to the Springboks. Take a look… @adafitfans Who's next? #hilton #hiltonparents #adafit #schoolboy #schoolboyrugby #rugby #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #humour #fypシ゚ #rivalry ♬ original sound – adafitfans In May, Hilton College George Harris scolded parents of learners in the school in an open letter for their 'extravagant' display at a derby day against Michaehouse. This included hiring five-star hosting and catering services that showcased lavish displays of food like sushi, biltong, and couture cakes. The principal also criticised the parents for not cleaning up after the events. He wrote: 'When hospitality and generosity became self-serving displays of opulence, and began to pull away from what we aspire to be as a community. The principal added: 'Next year, can we ditch the opulence in favour of a wholesome hospitality devoid of showmanship and loud extravagance?. 'When the extravagance stretches into overconsumption, the message we send to our children is wrong'. Hilton College came under fire over its recent rugby derby day. Images via Facebook Hilton College bags the number one spot as South Africa's most expensive private school. Its annual fees for 2025 stand at R420 729, which includes boarding and tuition fees. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store