Strong Bulls squad for Champions Cup but no Goosen

The Vodacom Bulls named a strong squad for their Investec Champions Cup campaign, featuring 18 Springboks but there was no mention of flyhalf Johan Goosen, who is said to be considering retirement at the moment.

The 33-year old Goosen, who has been struggling with a calf injury this season and is yet to play for the Bulls in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, went on tour with the Bulls before the November internationals but returned home when the calf injury flared up again.

No stranger to injuries - Goosen has remarked himself that he had 14 operations on his knees over his career - the calf injury may seem to be too much in the end for the former schoolboy prodigy, who is now in the twilight of his career.

His omission from the squad registered for the Champions Cup could mean a simple lengthy injury situation, but the whispers around Loftus is that he is considering retirement and is one of the reasons the Bulls signed Kade Wolhuter on loan from the Lions a few days ago.

With Jaco van der Walt joining the Cheetahs and Boeta Chamberlain heading to the Newcastle Red Bulls, the Bulls have Springbok pivot Handre Pollard on their books as well as utility back Keagan Johannes, who deputised at 10 during the past year.

They also have veteran Willie le Roux, who can play 10 as well, but is more at home at fullback.

Goosen aside, the Bulls have all the trademarks of a strong forward pack - with the Springbok powerhouse front row of Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar in the pack as well as Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can play both prop and hooker.

There are also current Boks Ruan Nortje, Cobus Wiese and Marco van Staden in the squad, while Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw are set to return from long injury breaks to join up with the squad.

YOUR 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup Squad 🐂 @Vodacom | @ChampionsCup #TheUnbreakableLine pic.twitter.com/itlFllckUl

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) November 26, 2025

In addition to this, there are former Boks in Akker van der Merwe, Nizaam Carr and Marcell Coetzee there as well as SA under-20 upstarts JJ Theron and Jaco Grobbelaar.

At the back Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie’s names stand out, as does Le Roux while 18-year-old SA under-20 sensation Cheswill Jooste gets his name into the squad to continue his rise to fame.

The Bulls have a tough start to the Cup as they host champions Bordeaux Begles next weekend in the opening round before heading to the other finalists Northampton Saints in their second game.

 FULL SQUAD

FORWARDS (25) Alu Tshakweni, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Sti Sithole; Johan Grobbelaar, Akker van der Merwe, Juann Else; Wilco Louw, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Khuta Mchunu; Jaco Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese; Ruan Nortje, Reinhardt Ludwig, JF van Heerden; Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Nama Xaba; Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw; Cameron Hanekom, Mpilo Gumede, JJ Theron, Jeandré Rudolph.

BACKS (17) Embrose Papier, Paul de Wet, Zak Burger; Handré Pollard, Keagan Johannes, Kade Wolhuter; Stravino Jacobs, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Harold Vorster, Jan Serfontein; David Kriel, Stedman Gans; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste; Willie le Roux, Devon Williams.