Latest news with #UnitedRugbyChampionshipGrandFinal
IOL News
an hour ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls stick to winning recipe as they chase URC final glory against Leinster in Dublin
Bulls loose forward Marcell Coetzee will take over the No 8 jersey from the injured Cameron Hanekom for Saturday's URC final against Leinster in Dublin. Image: BackpagePix Springbok Marcell Coetzee will wear the Bulls' No 8 jersey in the absence of Cameron Hanekom in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final against Leinster on Saturday at Croke Park in Dublin (6 pm kick-off). Director of rugby Jake White made one enforced change to his side for their second consecutive final of the tournament, with Bok Marco van Staden taking over as flanker and Coetzee making a positional switch. The rest of the starting team is unchanged from the one that defeated the Sharks in the semis last weekend. 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 There is one change on the bench, with veteran Nizaam Carr taking his place amongst the replacements with Van Staden promoted to the starting XV. Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen will again be tasked with leading the Bulls' attacking plays as the form halfback-pairing, while Canan Moodie and Sebastian de Klerk form a potent attacking back-three. A new winner will be crowned on Saturday, and for the first time, the final will take place outside of South Africa. Your star-studded Grand Finalists ready to battle 💥 Get your tickets to witness history at Croke Park on Saturday 👉 #URC — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 12, 2025
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Leinster issue worrying injury update ahead of URC Grand Final against Bulls as Leo Cullen made to sweat on key players
LEINSTER boss Leo Cullen is sweating on the fitness of several key stars ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the Vodacom Bulls. Advertisement 2 Leinster boss Leo Cullen issed an injury update ahead of the URC final against the Bulls 2 Josh van der Flier is one of a number of players that are facing a fitness battle for Leinster ahead of the decider against the Bulls Cullen confirmed that Tommy O'Brien came through last weekend's Jordan Larmour is also back in the mix after being named in the extended match day squad last time out. The winger is expected to be in contention for a place in the 23. But it's far from plain sailing elsewhere, with four big names being closely monitored. Advertisement read more on rugby Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan are all nursing calf injuries and will undergo further assessment during the week. Meanwhile, 2022 World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier is facing a race against time to prove his fitness after picking up a hamstring knock. Leinster said a final call will be made on their availability closer to kick-off. There's no change on the status of Will Connors, Brian Deeny, Caelan Doris, and Robbie Henshaw, who all remain doubtful at this stage. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union With a historic final taking place at Croke Park, Leinster are desperate to end their recent run of near-misses, and land the But they may have to do it without some of their biggest names at the historic venue. 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' The action get underway from 5pm KO, live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
The Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Leinster beat Glasgow to book their place in URC Grand Final
The 42 The 42 is the home of quality journalism for passionate Irish sports fans, bringing you closer to the stories that matter through insightful analysis and sharp sportswriting. Leinster 37 Glasgow Warriors 19 LEINSTER WILL HAVE a chance to win a first trophy in four seasons after booking their place in next week's United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Croke Park. Two tries apiece from Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osborne, as well as tries from Thomas Clarkson and Ciarán Frawley, helped Leo Cullen's side to a 37-19 win against Glasgow Warriors in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The 42 Subscribers can read the full match report here (€) Try The 42 for Just €1 Limited-time offer for new subscribers Unlock every article and every podcast The only place to read Murray Kinsella, Gavin Cooney, Declan Bogue & more Specialist analysis that makes sense of the action Weekly fan-favourite rugby, football and GAA podcasts Unmissable sportswriting and features that you won't find anywhere else Get Your €1 Trial Now Advertisement
The South African
05-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
BREAKING: Rassie names first official Bok squad of the year!
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named the same 54 players – nine of whom are uncapped – that attended the second national alignment camp in Cape Town last month in a large training squad for the opening stages of the international season, which kicks off on 28 June against the Barbarians, followed by the Incoming Series. The squad, which was confirmed on Thursday by SA Rugby, includes 31 Rugby World Cup players. The group consist of 30 forwards and 24 backs, while only nine players are yet to don the green and gold jersey on the international stage. The nine uncapped players in the group are Marnus van der Merwe, Neethling Fouche, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, Renzo du Plessis, Vincent Tshituka, Juarno Augustus, Ethan Hooker, and Ntokozo Makhaza. While Fouche and Hooker were members of the Springbok training squad last season, Tshituka and Augustus had a taste of the senior international structures after being included in the Castle Lager Springbok Showdown Green and Gold squads in 2020. With the Bulls, Sharks, and Leinster still in the race for the United Rugby Championship Grand Final, along with their teammates from Bath, Leicester Tigers, and the Sale Sharks, who will contest the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals this weekend, a staggered approach will be adopted to the players joining the camp. The available players, which include the full Japan-based contingent following the conclusion of their season, will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday, 8 June, and begin their on-field preparations on Monday. The remainder of the players will join the squad as they complete their club commitments. Five players, meanwhile, were not considered for selection due to injuries: Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane. 'We were very pleased with the two Springbok alignment camps we hosted, and we are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent,' said Erasmus. 'Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions. 'We take pride in offering talented young players a chance to work first-hand with the coaches and to expose them to standards at international level, and we are excited to see them showcase their skills at the camp.' Erasmus added: 'We used a total of 50 players last season in an attempt to balance the load on them, while at the same time building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and with a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season.' The squad will train from Monday to Friday, before returning home for the weekend to spend time with their families, and will reassemble on Sunday 15 June for the second week of training, before travelling to Cape Town for the Barbarians match. The Springboks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter on South African soil in Cape Town on Saturday 28 June where they will play for the Qatar Airways Cup, which will be followed by back-to-back Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 and 12 July, and Georgia in Nelspruit a week later on 19 July. Springbok squad (in alphabetical order): Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Renzo du Plessis (Emirates Lions), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Emirates Lions), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Let us know 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 Blueskyfor the latest news.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Williamson fronts up as Bulls promise charge
URC: Glasgow Warriors v BullsVenue: Scotsoun Stadium, Glasgow Date: Friday, 25 April Time: 19:35 BSTCoverage: Follow live text coverage on the BBC Sport website & app Even if he was not the size of a large tower block, when big Max Williamson refers to Friday night's encounter between Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls as a "massive battle", you would not be minded to inching his way back to health in Glasgow's second row after missing four months of the season through injury, is spot on here, A repeat of last year's final and a clash of second versus third in this year's table - it doesn't get a whole lot stakes and the rhetoric are high. Bulls head coach Jake White said this week that everybody involved with his team wrote the date of this game on their wall when the fixtures were was a reference to the angst Glasgow dumped on them in Pretoria last summer when the Bulls raced into a 13-0 lead in the United Rugby Championship Grand Final only for the underdogs to bite back and win the thing against the odds."I can promise you, from the day we started pre-season, 25 April was always going to be the game that we were going to go hard for," said White of Friday be fair to Glasgow, they have thrown some petrol on the fire themselves. Earlier in the week, Nigel Carolan, a key coach in Franco Smith's operation, spoke about the arrival of the Bulls and compared Scotstoun to a the South Africans, who have lost two of the past three URC finals, that will be grist to the mill. Quite honestly, Eddie Hearn at his most bombastic could not have done a better job at promoting this on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast, Williamson weighed up the importance of Friday. With only three games left in the league phase and only four points between Glasgow in second and the Bulls in third, the margins are are already guaranteed a home quarter-final. Beating the Bulls would go an awfully long way towards securing a home semi-final as well, if they get there. None of this is lost on Williamson, 22. 'We know it's going to be a battle' These are the dicey times for the Warriors. Of their glorious side that won the title last season, upwards of eight won't be playing in this game, for various reasons, mostly having Friday starter Williamson back on the pitch this past few weeks, albeit from the bench, is exactly what Smith needed. It's precisely what Williamson wanted, too. He was in serious form in the autumn and played thunderously for Scotland against South Africa at Murrayfield, only to succumb to injury. The Six Nations came and went without him."I injured myself in November, and then re-injured myself in January, which was obviously tough, but it was also a good opportunity," he says."I played a lot of rugby in the last 12 months, so it was a good opportunity to get a bit of physical development. That's kind of the way I tried to spin it. The one advantage of being injured is that I feel really fresh now."What about these angry Bulls, then. "Yeah, huge," comments Williamson. "You know, looking at the table, it's massive. With what happened last year, we know they're going to be coming. They've said it - this is the game for them. So we're up for that too."We know it's going to be a battle on Friday night. That's what it's going to be. We know they're coming here for a physical contest. We want to take the rugby to them and match them in that physical battle."It will definitely be a feisty game. They always bring their physicality and we're not going to stand back and let them do it."Statistically, Glasgow have more points for and fewer points against, more tries for and fewer tries against, more clean breaks, more turnovers won, more bonus the metrics tell you they are favourites to win, but you cannot put a number on aggression and rage for victory. There is no data that records the type of raw desire that White has spoken will not be lacking in that department either. Andrew Brace is refereeing. Given the fighting talk from both of these heavyweights, he might be as well bring a bell as a whistle to the Scotstoun scrap.
