DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls

G R A N D F I N A L 

GRAND FINAL | DHL STADIUM | KICK OFF 19:30 SAST

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GRAND FINAL 

DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM BULLS 

CONTENTS 

CEO 

Martin Anayi 

Tournament Director 

David Jordan 

Chief Operating Officer 

Charl Crous 

Chief Marketing Officer 

Tom Lister 

Head of Operations 

Amy Monaghan 

Head of Broadcaster & 

Communications 

Adam Redmond 

Head of Brand Marketing & 

Content 

Mark Shields 

Head of Growth Marketing & 

Technology 

Aadil Muhktar 

Head of Financial Transformation 

Marc McGlade 

Head of Commercial 

David Evans 

Head of Data Insights 

Rob Balmer 

Head of Sponsorship 

Kelly Cooke 

Head of Match Officials 

Tappe Henning 

Head of HR 

Joan McGrath 

Broadcast Product Manager 

Chris Blake 

PR & Communications Manager 

Shelly Samuel 

Finance Manager 

Carla McCallion 

Partnership Activation Manager 

Sarah Mundy 

Financial Controller 

Carol Shirran 

Executive Administrator 

Roisin Carroll 

Finance Executive 

Joanne Lawlor 

Communications Executive 

Aoife Rigney 

Data Insights Executive 

Georgie Liddle 

Operations Executive 

Ruth-Anne O’Brien 

Partnership Sales Executive 

Christina Mahon 

34 

URC WELCOME FROM 

04 CEO MARTIN ANAYI 

24 STORMERS SQUAD ROAD TO THE FINAL 

06 36 

11 

LEAGUE STATISTICS 

48 

STORMERS STATMASTER 

14 

URC AWARDS 

18 56 

MATCH PREVIEW 

20 

04 18 

24 36 

MATCHDAY SQUADS 

BULLS SQUAD 

BULLS STATMASTER 

52 

URC AWARDS 

URC PLAY-OFF 

RECORDS 

64 

TODAY’S REFEREE 

68 

STADIUM INFORMATION 

URC Grand Final Editors: Aoife Rigney & Shelly Samuel 

Photos: INPHO | Art Editor: Paul West 

This programme was designed and on behalf of 

The United Rugby Championship by Ignition Sports Media. 

www.ignitionsportsmedia.com 

18.06.2022 - DHL STADIUM, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA #STOVBUL 3

GRAND FINAL 


MARTIN ANAyI 

WELCOME 

INCREDIBLE DRAMA HAS LED US 

TO THIS HISTORIC OCCASION 

A 

season that started 

in Parma, Italy now 

comes down to just 

80 minutes of rugby 

in Cape Town, South 

Africa in what should be a showcase 

of what the Vodacom United Rugby 

Championship has to offer. 

The DHL Stormers and the 

Vodacom Bulls have emerged 

from a Play-Off series drenched 

in drama and last weekend’s Final 

Four clashes were some of the most 

absorbing and exhilarating contests 

witnessed in any competition across 

the world this season. 

The interest in the games has 

been backed up by some of our 

biggest TV audiences of the 

season which showed that over 

a quarter of a million tuned in to 

watch DHL Stormers v Ulster and 

figures for Leinster v Vodacom 

Bulls were just below that mark at 

221,000. 

The Vodacom Bulls went to 

Dublin, Ireland to take on eighttime 

league champions Leinster 

and shocked everyone by beating 

the best on their own turf. Less 

than 24 hours later the DHL 

Stormers required 85 minutes 

to end the action level with 

“ 

WITH FANS 

RETURNING TO 

STADIUMS WE 

ARE ALSO SEEING 

ATTENDANCES 

TREND UPWARDS” 

Ulster before Manie Libbock’s 

conversion sealed victory after an 

incredible battle. 

It has been quite a turnaround in 

fortunes for South African rugby 

in the Vodacom URC this season. 

After the opening tour in Europe 

returned just four wins from 16 

games many were ready to write 

off the entry of Vodacom Bulls, Cell 

C Sharks, Emirates Lions and DHL 

Stormers to this league. 

After this the pandemic served 

up another wave of disruption that 

upturned our fixture lists and six 

months ago the premise of the 

Vodacom URC was under scrutiny. 

But we love a comeback in sport 

and my word did we get one! 

From March onwards the South 

African teams have been resurgent 

and forced established teams 

such as Leinster, Munster, Glasgow 

Warriors and Ulster into a tight 

run for Play-Off positions. The 

presence of three South African 

teams in the Final Eight was a 

validation of their entry to the URC 

and driven levels of interest that we 

have never seen before. 

By the end of April we had broken 

the 20-million barrier for our 

broadcast audience this season 

which smashed our previous best 

of 13 million. Working with Free-to- 

Air broadcasters such as TG4, RTÉ, 

S4C, BBC Wales, BBC Northern 

Ireland and Mediaset has opened 

up more access to watch and that 

combines brilliantly with Premier 

Sports and SuperSport who do 

4

such a terrific job at showing all 151 

games live. 

With fans returning to stadiums 

we are also seeing attendances 

trend upwards and 93,000 came 

through the gates in R18 a few 

weeks ago which was our highest 

total for a round this season. This 

was topped off by the incredible 

crowds we saw in Pretoria and 

Cape Town during the Play-Offs 

and we expect great numbers in 

DHL Stadium again today. 

Of course, all of this is driven by 

the rugby we see on the pitch and 

that entertainment is driven by the 

sharp minds of our coaches and 

the incredible skill and athleticism 

of the players. The clash of playing 

styles has reinvigorated the league 

and whether it is a trip south to play 

at altitude and high temperatures 

or a northern tour that requires the 

know-how to combat the colder 

locations, we know our clubs are 

relishing the new challenges of 

playing in new environments. 

The narrative around the 

Northern hemisphere versus the 

Southern hemisphere has grown 

with every passing round and today 

– even with two teams from South 

Africa we end up with a domestic 

North v South derby match! 

The 150 games that have led 

us to the Vodacom URC1 Grand 

Final have raised the bar for a 

competition which began life in 

2001 as the Celtic League. We 

believe this league can be the best 

in the world and we fully expect the 

DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls 

to set a new benchmark for the 

other 14 teams to aim for. 

Away from the pitch, the 

team at the Vodacom United 

Rugby Championship has been 

expanding as we strive to drive 

this competition to greater heights 

so that we can support all of our 

teams in their ambitions. The 

positive reaction to our new name 

and brand has been rewarding, and 

behind it all there are core values 

and a clear strategy in place to help 

us achieve our goals so that every 

week you can watch your team play 

in an outstanding league. 

I would like to thank our staff 

for thriving in a very challenging 

environment this season. We have 

also enjoyed superb support from 

our title partners Vodacom who 

are as passionate about growing 

the game of rugby as any league or 

union and their support of the URC 

is playing a major role in our joint 

success. Added to this we have 

terrific partners in Gilbert and Loch 

Lomond Whiskies who have great 

belief in what the VURC stands for. 

We are also hugely thankful to 

our broadcast partners in the 

UK, Ireland, Italy, South Africa 

and across the world. They work 

alongside us to help tell new 

stories around our players and 

teams and give you a flavour of 

every corner that the Vodacom 

URC has to offer – whether it’s the 

Atlantic coast of Ireland, the heat 

of the Highveldt, speed of play in 

West Wales, the noise in Glasgow’s 

Scotstoun Stadium or the magical 

setting of Treviso. 

We hope that you enjoy today’s 

game and no matter what way the 

score goes, our aim is to create 

memories and a sense of belonging 

to our league that ensures you, 

your friends and your family will 

keep bringing your passion to our 

stadiums season after season. 

Enjoy the drama and excitement, 

Martin Anayi 

18.06.2022 - DHL STADIUM, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA #STOVBUL 

5

6 

GRAND FINAL 

DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM BULLS

DHL STORMERS’ 

ROAD TO THE FINAL 

The DHL Stormers snatched a Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand 

Final berth from the jaws of defeat to maintain a wave of momentum that 

has carried them to within touching distance of the title. 

A 

n 85th-minute Warrick 

Gelant try and Manie 

Libbok’s nerveless 

winning conversion 

earned the DHL 

Stormers a 17-15 victory over Ulster 

in the Final Four last weekend, and 

their 10-match winning streak could 

yet end in silverware should they 

add an 11th on Saturday. 

Despite being one of the last two 

sides standing in the competition, 

John Dobson’s team were not 

spared the struggles experienced 

by all of the South African franchises 

on their initial northern hemisphere 

tour at the start of the season. 

However, after losing to both 

Benetton and Munster in their 

opening two fixtures, the DHL 

Stormers actually left Europe with 

the best record of the four sides, 

having picked up a 20-20 draw 

at Edinburgh before beating the 

Dragons 24-10 in Newport. 

Their first home match of the 

season ended in a 37-19 defeat 

to the Emirates Lions, but they 

followed it up with a 30-26 win 

against Saturday’s final opponents, 

the Vodacom Bulls, in Pretoria. 

A 22-22 draw with the Cell C 

Sharks in Durban preceded a 

20-10 home win over the same 

opponents a week later, while 

they got their revenge over the 

Emirates Lions with a 32-10 victory 

in Johannesburg in February. 

The return of north-versus-south 

fixtures got off to a rocky start for 

the DHL Stormers, beaten 19-17 

by Connacht in Galway having led 

17-7 as the match approached the 

final quarter. 

However, they piled on the points in 

“ 

THE STORMERS 

OVERCAME THE 

VODACOM BULLS 

19-17 AT HOME IN 

A MATCH THAT 

OFFERS THE 

BIGGEST CLUES AS 

TO HOW THE FINAL 

MIGHT PLAy OUT ” 

55-7 and 40-3 victories over Zebre 

Parma and Cardiff respectively. 

Those wins kicked off a winning 

streak that remains intact, although 

Ulster – who came agonisingly close 

to snapping the run on Saturday – 

fell narrowly short of doing likewise 

in March, as they suffered a 23-20 

defeat in Cape Town. 

The DHL Stormers overcame the 

Ospreys with a degree of comfort 

before edging the Vodacom Bulls 

19-17 at home in a match that 

perhaps offers the biggest clues 

as to how the Grand Final might 

play out - the hosts holding on 

for victory after Elrigh Louw’s late 

converted try. 

They then saw off Glasgow 

Warriors and Leinster, but their route 

through the play-offs remained 

unclear when they travelled to 

Llanelli for their final match of the 

regular season against the Scarlets, 

forming part of a five-way race for 

second spot. 

Results elsewhere went the 

DHL Stormers’ way and, as well as 

clinching the South African Shield, 

a 26-21 victory at Parc y Scarlets 

guaranteed them home advantage 

through to the semi-finals should 

they make it that far. 

A battling 28-17 victory over 

Edinburgh was followed by 

Saturday’s box-office late triumph 

over Ulster, meaning a season 

highlighted by the try-scoring 

exploits of Leolin Zas and the 

emergence of rising star Evan Roos 

could yet end in team glory for the 

Capetonians, who will host the final 

after Leinster’s elimination. 

DHL Stadium has already 

witnessed its fair share of drama 

this season. Saturday promises to 

deliver a thrilling final act. 


7

8 

GRAND FINAL 

DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM BULLS

VODACOM BULLS’ 

ROAD TO THE FINAL 

The Vodacom Bulls have emerged from challenging beginnings in the 

Vodacom United Rugby Championship to earn a shot at the inaugural title. 

J 

ake White’s men lost 

five of their opening 

six fixtures yet find 

themselves one win 

away from lifting the 

coveted trophy. 

In common with all of their fellow 

South African franchises, the Bulls 

found it tough going on their initial 

northern hemisphere tour. 

Heavy defeats to Leinster and 

Connacht were followed by a 

much-needed 29-19 victory at 

Cardiff, only for them to suffer 

another loss at Edinburgh before 

losing to the Cell C Sharks upon 

their return to South Africa. 

In their next fixture, the Vodacom 

Bulls battled from 18-0 down to lead 

the DHL Stormers 26-18 after an 

hour in Pretoria but eventually lost 

30-26. 

The momentum generated 

by home and away wins over 

the Emirates Lions was briefly 

punctured by a home defeat to the 

Cell C Sharks but they have been 

close to peerless since. 

The Vodacom Bulls were 45-7 

victors over Zebre Parma on their 

next trip to Europe before swatting 

aside each of their first four 

northern hemisphere visitors. 

Munster were handed a 29-24 

defeat at Loftus Versfeld while the 

Scarlets (57-12), Dragons (55-20) 

and Ulster (34-16) came in for 

heavier punishment at the hands of 

the resurgent Vodacom Bulls. 

White’s side suffered a narrow 

19-17 defeat at the DHL Stormers on 

April 9 – a result that proved to be 

their final loss of the regular season 

“ 

FINE MARGINS 

HAVE COME TO 

CHARACTERISE 

THE VODACOM 

BULLS’ PLAy-OFF 

CAMPAIGN” 

and one they will look to avenge 

when the teams meet at the same 

venue in Saturday’s final. 

A 46-29 win over Benetton helped 

the Vodacom Bulls gain a measure 

of payback for their Rainbow Cup 

final defeat to the same opponents 

at the end of last season but their 

Vodacom URC play-off path 

remained very much unclear 

heading into the last two rounds. 

They only made sure of a topeight 

finish with their 29-17 win 

against Glasgow Warriors in Round 

17 while a 38-31 victory at the 

Ospreys in which Cornal Hendricks 

crossed for a hat-trick of tries saw 

them sneak into fourth at the death, 

edging the Cell C Sharks by a single 

point to earn home advantage in the 

Final Eight. 

Similarly fine margins have come 

to characterise the Vodacom Bulls’ 

play-off campaign. 

A dramatic late Chris Smith dropgoal 

spared them extra time in 

their Final Eight clash with the Cell 

C Sharks, who had fought back to 

27-27 five minutes from time before 

the fly-half’s moment of inspiration. 

Smith’s kick booked a ticket to 

Dublin to face Leinster, who were 

favourites for the title having 

topped the regular-season 

standings. 

However, the Vodacom Bulls 

battled to a mightily impressive 

27-26 victory at the RDS in the Final 

Four – a marked improvement on 

the 31-3 defeat they suffered on 

their previous trip to the Irish capital 

in Round 1. 

That progress has been the story 

of the Vodacom Bulls’ season. 

To this point book-ended by a pair 

of contrasting Dublin displays, the 

campaign may yet have its crowning 

moment for the men from Pretoria. 


9

LEAGUE TABLE STATISTICS 

DHL STORMERS 

TOTAL POINTS WINS LOSSES DRAWS 

61 12 4 2 

POINTS SCORED 

POINTS CONCEDED 

464 311 

TRIES SCORED 

TRIES CONCEDED 

60 36 

BIGGEST WIN OF THE SEASON 

BIGGEST DEFEAT OF THE SEASON 

55-7 37-19 

v Zebre, Mar 13 v Emirates Lions, Dec 4 

MOST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON MOST POINTS CONCEDED THIS SEASON 

55 37 

v Zebre, Mar 13 v Emirates Lions, Dec 4 

TRY SCORING 

BONUS POINTS 

11 4 

LOSING 

BONUS POINTS 


11

GRAND FINAL 


LEAGUE TABLE STATISTICS 

VODACOM BULLS 

TOTAL POINTS WINS LOSSES DRAWS 

58 11 7 0 

POINTS SCORED 

POINTS CONCEDED 

518 388 

TRIES SCORED 

TRIES CONCEDED 

67 42 

BIGGEST WIN OF THE SEASON 

BIGGEST DEFEAT OF THE SEASON 

57-12 31-3 

v Scarlets, Mar 18 v Leinster, Sep 25 

MOST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON MOST POINTS CONCEDED THIS SEASON 

57 34 

v Scarlets, Mar 18 v Connacht, Oct 1 

TRY SCORING 

BONUS POINTS 

10 4 

LOSING 

BONUS POINTS 

12

scenario. 

HAMPIONSHIP 

illating, with last minute – and in some cases 

limax to the final you want for any major 

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 

ADIUM I 18 JUNE 2022 

JORGE MENDES 

United, behind South African rugby. 

CHIEF OFFICER: CONSUMER BUSINESS VODACOM 

That’s been the message from Vodacom since 1996. That was the message when we 

embarked on this new Vodacom United Rugby Championship last year and put our full 

support behind this exciting evolution of rugby. 

And that is definitely the message as we reach this most historic first final of the most 

thrilling new competition in world rugby. 

To have two South African teams contest the inaugural final of the Vodacom United 

Rugby Championship in Cape Town is a dream scenario. 

The playoffs have been nothing short of scintillating, with last minute – and in some cases 

last second – victories providing the kind of climax to the final you want for any major 

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHA 

sports competition. 

DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM BULLS I DHL STADIUM I 18 JUNE 2022 

haracter shown by the South African teams 

o this competition on their overseas tours, 

the playoffs. 

players, and well played to the fans for 

th African rugby passion and pride. 

ms the best of luck. 

f the Vodacom United Rugby Championship 

As Vodacom we are extremely proud of the character shown by the South African teams 

as they had to overcome a challenging start to this competition on their overseas tours, 

and then rose to that challenge to dominate the playoffs. 

DHL STORMERS VS 

Well played to the coaches, JORGE management MENDESand players, and well played to the fans for 

never wavering CHIEF OFFICER: in your belief CONSUMER in yourBUSINESS teams. VODACOM 

Now it’s time to unite around a festival of South African rugby passion and pride. 

We’re proud to support this and wish both teams the best of luck. 

And we cannot wait to see what season two of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship 

holds in store for us. 

JORGE MENDES 

CHIEF OFFICER: CONSUMER BUSINESS VODACOM 

VODACOM BULLS I DHL STADIUM 

United, behind South African rugby. 

That’s been the message from Vodacom since 1996. That was the message when we 

embarked on this new Vodacom United Rugby Championship last year and put our full 

support behind this exciting evolution of rugby. 

And that is definitely the message as we reach this most historic first final of the most 

thrilling new competition in world rugby. 

To have two South African teams contest the inaugural final of the Vodacom United 

Rugby Championship in Cape Town is a dream scenario. 

The playoffs have been nothing short of scintillating, with last minute – and in some cases 

last second – victories providing the kind of climax to the final you want for any major 

sports competition. 

As Vodacom we are extremely proud of the character shown by the South African teams 

as they had to overcome a challenging start to this competition on their overseas tours, 

and then rose to that challenge to dominate the playoffs. 

Well played to the coaches, management and players, and well played to the fans for 

never wavering in your belief in your teams. 

Now it’s time to unite around a festival of South African rugby passion and pride. 

We’re proud to support this and wish both teams the best of luck. 

And we cannot wait to see what season two of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship 

holds in store for us.

GRAND FINAL 


PLAyER STATISTICS 2021/22 


TOP 3 OFFLOADS 

WARRICK GELANT DAMIAN WILLEMSE EVAN ROOS 

30 25 15 

WARRICK GELANT 

720 

METRES GAINED 

TOP 8 LINEOUT STEALS 

MARVIN ORIE 5 

ADRE SMITH 2 

HACJIVAH DAYIMANI 1 

SALMAAN MOERAT 1 

DEON FOURIE 1 

ERNST VAN RHYN 1 

SAZI SANDI 1 

EVAN ROOS 1 

213 

EVAN 

ROOS 

141 

WARRICK 

GELANT 

130 

DAMIAN 

WILLEMSE 

93 

SEABELO 

SENATLA 

88 

MANIE 

LIBBOK 

TOTAL 

CARRIES 

14

TOP 5 CLEAN BREAKS 

LEOLIN 

ZAS 

MANIE 

LIBBOK 

SEABELO 

SENATLA 

RUHAN 

NEL 

WARRICK 

GELANT 

20 14 13 13 9 

145 

100 

TOTAL 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

114 112 

WARRICK 

GELANT 

MANIE 

LIBBOK 

TOTAL 

TACkLES 

EVAN ROOS 

kICkS 

IN PLAy 

JANTJIES 

362 

46 39 27 

DAMIAN 

WILLEMSE 

HERSCHEL 

JANTJIES 

STEFAN 

UNGERER 

HERSCHEL 

TOTAL 

PASSES 


GRAND FINAL 


A MOMENT IN TIME 

Try time in Cape Town: (from left) Ruhan Nel 

and Damian Willemse celebrate with Evan 

Roos after the DHL Stormers No 8 scored 

against Ulster in their Final Four encounter 

last weekend. Credit: inpho.ie 

16


17

GRAND FINAL 


LEO CULLEN HAS BEEN 

CROWNED LOCH LOMOND 

COACH OF THE SEASON 

The Leinster boss collects the award 

after leading his side to victory in 

the Irish Shield and the top of the 

overall Vodacom United Rugby 

Championship standings at the end 

of the regular season. 

A record-breaking victory over 

Glasgow Warriors followed in the Final 

Eight but Leinster could not book a 

place in the Grand Final after suffering 

a home Final Four defeat to the 

Vodacom Bulls on Friday night. 

Cullen also led Leinster to the 

Heineken Champions Cup final this 

season, with a narrow defeat to La 

Rochelle in Marseille. 

LEO CULLEN (LEINSTER) 

& 

COACH OF 

THE SEASON 

“I’d like to thank the Vodacom URC 

for the Award which I will accept on 

behalf of the wider coaching group 

and the 60 players that pulled on 

a Leinster Rugby jersey this year. 

The season most certainly did not 

end the way we would have liked 

but there were many highlights and 

positives over the year. I’d like to wish 

the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom 

Bulls the very best of luck in this 

weekend’s final. Having played both 

teams recently, it will be an intriguing 

final and a great way to bring the 

curtain down on the first season 

of the Vodacom United Rugby 

Championship. The introduction 

of the four South African clubs has 

raised the standards and we’ll all 

have to raise our game to compete 

with them next season. We would 

dearly love to be there and will 

watch with keen interest and we look 

forward to challenging for the title 

again next season.” 

This award was voted for by the 

Vodacom URC’s 16 head coaches 

and leaves only one prize still to be 

announced – the Players’ Player of 

the Season. 

It is the second prize won by a 

Leinster representative during the 

Vodacom URC Awards, with Ross 

Byrne having been selected at half in the Dream 

fly- 

Team. 

18

EVAN ROOS (DHL STORMERS) 

PLAyERS’ PLAyER 

OF THE SEASON 

EVAN ROOS HAS COMPLETED 

A VODACOM URC AWARDS 

QUADRUPLE BY COLLECTING 

THE PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE 

SEASON 

The award is voted for by the 

competition’s captains and vicecaptains, 

with the DHL Stormers 

number eight coming out on top 

in a poll that was conducted at the 

end of the regular season. 

Roos, 22, adds this latest accolade 

to a personal haul that already 

includes the prizes for Vodacom 

Fans’ Player of the Season, Next- 

Gen Player of the Season and a 

place in the Dream Team. 

This is the final award to be 

announced and rounds off a 

successful showing from the DHL 

Stormers, who also boast Top Try 

Scorer Leolin Zas and five Dream 

Team representatives. 

Roos will be looking to cap a 

memorable season by lifting the 

inaugural Vodacom URC title 

when the DHL Stormers host the 

Vodacom Bulls in the Grand Final 

on Saturday June 18. 

The back-row forward has had 

a stand-out campaign for the 

Cape Town outfit, proving himself 

a destructive ball carrier with 

more successful carries (126) and 

defenders beaten (49) than any 

other player in the competition over 

the 18 rounds of the regular season. 

He has carried that form into the 

play-offs, putting on a Vodacom 

Man of the Match display as 

the DHL Stormers overcame 

Edinburgh Rugby in the Final Eight 

and scoring a try in their semi-final 

clash with Ulster. 

Roos’ Vodacom URC 

performances saw him earn 

a Springboks call-up over the 

weekend and he is on course to 

make his Test debut during next 

month’s home series against Wales. 

VODACOM URC AWARDS 

WINNERS LIST 2021-22 

Tackle Machine: Alan O’Connor (Ulster) 

Turnover King: Jac Morgan (Ospreys) 

Gilbert Golden Boot: Gareth Anscombe 

(Ospreys) 

Top Try Scorer: Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers) 

Ironman: Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) 

Next-Gen Player of the Season: 

Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) 

Vodacom Fans’ Player of the Season: 


Loch Lomond Coach of the Season: 

Leo Cullen (Leinster) 

Players’ Player of the Season: 


Dream Team: 

Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), Seabelo 

Senatla (DHL Stormers), James Hume 

(Ulster), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), 

Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers), Ross Byrne 

(Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Ox 

Nche (Cell C Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar 

(Vodacom Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell 

C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Ruan 

Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee 

(Vodacom Bulls), Nick Timoney (Ulster), 



19

GRAND FINAL 


MATCH PREVIEW 

DHL STORMERS V VODACOM BULLS 

A 

fter 18 rounds of 

action and two 

weekends of play-offs, 

the Vodacom United 

Rugby Championship 

season comes down to a Cape 

Town clash between the DHL 

Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls. 

The DHL Stormers earned the 

right to host the Grand Final as the 

higher-ranked of the two sides in 

the Vodacom URC table, having 

finished second to the Vodacom 

Bulls’ fourth. 

John Dobson’s side are here 

thanks to a battling victory over 

Edinburgh in the Final Eight and a 

dramatic late semi-final triumph 

over Ulster, when Manie Libbok’s 

conversion with the last action of 

the match was the difference in a 

17-15 victory. 

The Vodacom Bulls, meanwhile, 

overcame the Cell C Sharks with 

an equally late Chris Smith dropgoal 

before stunning tournament 

favourites Leinster with a 27-26 

victory in the Final Four. 

THE BREAkDOWN 

THE DHL STORMERS 

HAVE WON THEIR LAST 10 

MATCHES SINCE LOSING 19-17 

TO CONNACHT IN GALWAY ON 

FEBRUARY 26. 

The Vodacom Bulls, meanwhile, 

have lost only one of their last 

11 Vodacom URC fixtures - by 

the same scoreline to the DHL 

Stormers in Cape Town on April 9. 

That fixture forms part of a fivematch 

unbeaten run in matches 

against South African opposition 

for the DHL Stormers, whose 

only home defeat this season was a 

37-19 reverse against the Emirates 

Lions in December. 

DHL Stormers wing Leolin Zas 

collected the Top Try Scorer prize 

during the Vodacom URC Awards 

but Bulls number eight Marcell 

Coetzee pulled level with 

him on 11 tries by touching 

down in the Final Four 

victory over Leinster. 

20

GRAND FINAL 


DEON 

FOURIE 

“It’s almost like a fairy tale. If anyone said at 

the beginning of the Vodacom URC that the 

Vodacom Bulls and the DHL Stormers would 

play in the final in Cape Town, you should 

have put money on it! You could have retired. 

“It’s an unbelievable year and it’s nice to end 

the season like this. 

“You know what you’re going to get against 

the Vodacom Bulls. They’re a really good side 

and they showed it against Leinster as well. 

“The thing is just to handle that pressure that 

they have at the moment and just to focus on 

what we have to do to win the game. 

“I think that is what’s helped us the last couple 

of months, that we just focus on what we’re 

doing and trying to do things better that we do. 

“Hopefully the guys can step on on Saturday 

and just build on that.” 

MADOSH 

TAMBWE 

“We’re at a stage in time where there is 

not much you can do. 

“There is one game left in the Vodacom 

URC, so we just need to try to replicate the 

performance we had against Leinster last week. 

“The DHL Stormers are the only South 

African team we haven’t got a ‘W’ against, 

so obviously we go with the mindset of 

wanting to win. 

“Like coach Jake (White) said, you enter 

competitions to win. 

“It doesn’t matter how we start or 

whatever happens, we just need to make 

sure that by the time the ref blows the final 

whistle at the 80th minute that we are a 

point ahead of them. 

“When we started this competition, I don’t 

think anyone gave us a chance. Especially 

when we lost our first game against Leinster 

and we went on to lose a couple more games. 

“But as time went on, the bond and the 

relationships got stronger within the squad 

and the belief started growing. 

“We found ourselves in a situation where 

every game was basically like a play-off game.” 

22

GRAND FINAL 


COACH PROFILE 

JOHN DOBSON 

J 

ohn Dobson could 

be about to write 

his greatest chapter 

by leading the DHL 

Stormers to victory 

in the Vodacom United Rugby 

Championship Grand Final. 

The Stormers head coach happens 

to be a published author, having 

released a pair of comic novels – 

Year of the Gherkin and Year of 

the Turnip – about the trials and 

tribulations of central character 

Jason Brydon. 

Dobson also holds a law degree, 

masters degrees in business 

administration and creative writing 

and was a founder of the 365 Media 

Group and the Rugby365 website. 

Those achievements highlight 

the variety that has filled Dobson’s 

adult life, although it has always 

been rooted in rugby. 

The son of former referee and 

rugby writer Paul Dobson, who was 

the recipient of the World Rugby 

Referee Award in 2012, sport was in 

the family for Dobson growing up. 

While his playing career may not 

have scaled the Test heights many 

young players aspire to, Dobson 

was on the books as a hooker at 

Western Province and spent time 

playing in Italy and Portugal. 

“ 

DOBSON WAS 

ON THE BOOkS 

AS A HOOkER AT 

WESTERN PROVINCE 

AND SPENT TIME 

PLAyING IN ITALy 

AND PORTUGAL” 

He found his calling as a coach in 

2008, serving as head coach of the 

UCT Ikey Tigers in the Varsity Cup 

and technical director of Italian side 

Roma in 2009. 

A return to Cape Town followed in 

2010 when he was appointed coach 

of the Western Province Under-21 

side, helping them to victory in the 

Under-21 Provincial Championship 

in his first season at the helm and 

again in 2013. 

He was also handed the reins of 

the Vodacom Cup team, winning 

that competition for the first and 

only time in the union’s history in 

2012 with a side that included the 

likes of Bryan Habana, Damian de 

Allende, Duane Vermeulen, Eben 

Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff. 

Dobson led Western Province to 

the Vodacom Cup play-offs for 

five consecutive years and, despite 

admitting to having had offers to 

coach abroad, his loyalty paid off 

when he was placed in charge of 

the union’s Currie Cup side in 2015, 

taking over from future Springboks 

coach Allister Coetzee, who had 

departed for a job in Japan. 

His first season at the helm saw 

Western Province reach a fourth 

consecutive Premier Division final 

before victory over the Cell C 

Sharks in Durban helped them take 

the title in 2017. 

They finished runners-up again 

in 2018 and Dobson’s ascent 

through the Western Province 

ranks was complete in 2020 when 

he was identified as Robbie Fleck’s 

successor as Stormers head coach. 

He oversaw the team’s move from 

DHL Newlands to DHL Stadium and 

now stands on the brink of delivering 

a long-awaited piece of major 

silverware for a franchise who never 

claimed Super Rugby’s top prize. 

The Stormers won 12 of their 18 

regular-season matches in the URC, 

collecting the South African Shield 

along the way, and now only a home 

clash with the Vodacom Bulls stands 

between them and becoming the 

inaugural URC champions. 

Forget Year of the Gherkin and 

Year of the Turnip - this could be 

the year of the Stormers. 

24

FEISTY FOURIE ON 

FIRE FOR THE FINAL 

Deon Fourie was winning turnovers in a DHL Stormers 

jersey in 2008. All that has changed is that he is now 

winning turnovers in a DHL Stormers jersey. 

DHL, who signed with the Stormers and WP in 2011, are 

the longest-serving sponsors of professional rugby 

in the Western Cape in the history of the union and 

franchise, and when reporting on Fourie’s exploits, he 

is comfortably the longest-serving of those players 

who will front the Vodacom Bulls in 

“ 

the inaugural and historic Vodacom 

United Rugby Championship at the DHL 

Stadium on Saturday. 

Fourie first wore the franchise jersey in 

2008, left in 2014 and returned in 2021. 

If he was good when he left, he is even 

better now and his Springboks squad 

selection is confirmation of his class and 

reward for his performances this season. 

Fourie has played 15 of the DHL Stormers 20 

Vodacom URC matches this season and before that he 

played six times for DHL Western Province. 

He returned to Cape Town after a decade in France’s 

Top 14 to mentor youngsters for the provincial side, but 

within a fortnight DHL Stormers coach John Dobson 

recognised that Fourie was still as good a player as he 

was a mentor. 

‘He is just world class,’ raved Dobson. ‘He is averaging 

four turnovers a game, hugely influential in everything 

he does and just an outstanding team player. He can 

play in the loosies and he can play hooker. He is a dream 

player, in quality, and also a dream individual to have in 

the squad as a person. He is just so inspirational.’ 

Fourie will play his 100th match for the DHL Stormers on 

Saturday evening, 15 years after playing his first match. 

When he left in 2014, he’d played 85 times for the 

DHL Stormers and 90 times for WP. He now sits on 96 

matches for DHL WP, with that century sure to come 

in the 2022/23 season. 

For now, all the attention is on the DHL Stormers and a 

100th cap that Fourie had never considered possible when 

he left South Africa to seek a new 

IF HE WAS GOOD 

WHEN HE LEFT, 

HE IS EVEN 

BETTER NOW” 

challenge in France. 

It was a challenge he got as a 

player and an adventure he enjoyed 

individually and with his family. 

Fourie played 91 times for Lyon 

between 2014 and 2019 and 42 times 

for Grenoble between 2019 and 2021. 

Wherever he has played, he has 

been lauded, as a rugby player and as a person. 

‘He has had an exceptional season. His experience, 

talent, hard work and sacrifice means a lot to the 

squad and hopefully it will be the same for the 

country,’ said DHL Stormers captain and Springbok 

front rower Steven Kitshoff. 

Fourie, despite his incredible season, speaks first of 

his younger teammates, their energy, their humility 

and the privilege of being a part of their journey. 

But you speak to any of the youngsters in the group 

and the first name they will mention is Fourie, who, 

should he debut internationally later this season, will at 

35 years-old become the oldest 1st-Test Springbok in 

the country’s history. 


25

GRAND FINAL 


2021/22 SEASON 

DHL 

STORMERS 

JUAN DE JONGH 

HACJIVAH DAyMANI 

ANGELO DAVIDS 

kWENZO BLOSE 

PROP 

AGE: 25 

HEIGHT: 6FT 10IN 

WEIGHT: 103KG 

WING 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 81KG 

NO.8 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 94KG 

CENTRE 

AGE: 34 


WEIGHT: 89KG 

WILLIE ENGELBRECHT 

DAN DU PLESSIS 

BEN-JASON DIxON 

PAUL DE WET 

SCRUM-HALF 

AGE: 26 


WEIGHT: 79KG 

LOCk 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 104KG 

CENTRE 

AGE: 27 


WEIGHT: 97KG 

NO.8 

AGE: 29 


WEIGHT: 110KG 

26

CONOR EVANS BROk HARRIS 

LOCk 

AGE: 20 


WEIGHT: 95KG 

NEETHLING FOUCHE 

HERSCHEL JANTJIES 

PROP 

AGE: 29 


WEIGHT: 1117KG 

DEN FOURIE 

STEVEN kITSHOFF 

HOOkER 

AGE: 35 


WEIGHT: 100KG 

WARRICk GELANT 

JJ kOTZE 

FULL-BACk 

AGE: 27 


WEIGHT: 89KG 

PROP 

AGE: 37 


WEIGHT: 121KG 

SCRUM-HALF 

AGE: 26 


WEIGHT: 74KG 

PROP 

AGE: 30 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 120KG 

HOOkER 

AGE: 21 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 96KG 

FRANS MAL HERBE 

LEON LyONS 

MANIE LIBBOk 

TRISTAN LEyDS 

FULL-BACk 

AGE: 25 


WEIGHT: 70KG 

FLy-HALF 

AGE: 24 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 75KG 

PROP 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 117KG 

PROP 

AGE: 31 


WEIGHT: 130KG 

RUHAN NEL 

SALMAAN MOERAT 

DAVID MEIHUIZEN 

LEE-MARVIN MAZIBUkO 

PROP 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 109KG 

LOCk 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 120KG 

LOCk 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 113KG 

CENTRE 

AGE: 31 


WEIGHT: 100KG 


27

GRAND FINAL 


JUNIOR POkOMELA 

SERGEAL PETERSEN 

MARVIN ORIE 

SCARRA NTUBENI 

HOOkER 

AGE: 31 


WEIGHT: 102KG 

LOCk 

AGE: 29 


WEIGHT: 109KG 

WING 

AGE: 27 


WEIGHT: 82KG 

FLANkER 

AGE: 25 


WEIGHT: 95KG 

SEABELO SENALTA 

SAZI SANDI 

EVAN ROOS 

RIkUS PRETORIOUS 

CENTRE 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 102KG 

NO.8 

AGE: 21 


WEIGHT: 109KG 

PROP 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 117KG 

WING 

AGE: 29 


WEIGHT: 86KG 

TIM SWIEL 

CHAD SOLOMON 

ADRE SMITH 

CORNEL SMIT 

CENTRE 

AGE: 24 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 93KG 

LOCk 

AGE: 25 


WEIGHT: 107KG 

HOOkER 

AGE: 28 


WEIGHT: 100KG 

FLy-HALF 

AGE: 29 


WEIGHT: 79KG 

ANDRE-HUGO VENTER 

ERNST VAN RHyN 

STEFAN UNGERER 

MARCEL THEUNISSEN 

FLANkER 

AGE: 23 


WEIGHT: 90KG 

SCRUM-HALF 

AGE: 28 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 92KG 

LOCk 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 116KG 

HOOkER 

AGE: 20 


WEIGHT: 100KG 

28

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GRAND FINAL 


LEOLIN ZAS 

NAMA xABA 

DAMIAN WILLEMSE 

ALI VERMAAk 

PROP 

AGE: 33 


WEIGHT: 109KG 

NO.8 

AGE: 24 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 91KG 

FLANkER 

AGE: 24 


WEIGHT: 101KG 

WING 

AGE: 26 

HEIGHT: 6FT 

WEIGHT: 92KG 

30

GRAND FINAL 


LEOLIN ZAS & RUAN NORTJE 

PICk UP TOP TRy SCORER & 

IRONMAN AWARD 

HL Stormers wing 

Leolin Zas scored 11 

tries over the course 

D 

of the regular season 

to end the campaign 

at the top of the charts while 

Vodacom Bulls second-row Ruan 

Nortje takes home an award which 

recognises the player who has 

racked up the most minutes over 

the 18 rounds of the URC. 

They are the first South African 

winners to be announced as part of the 

end-of-season awards, with Ulster’s 

Alan O’Connor (Tackle Machine) and 

Ospreys pair Jac Morgan (Turnover 

King) and Gareth Anscombe (Gilbert 

Golden Boot) having scooped the 

three accolades already handed out. 

The Dream Team and the Next- 

Gen Star of the Season will be 

announced later this week while 

Vodacom Fans’ Player of the 

Season, the Loch Lomond Coach 

of the Season and Players’ Player 

of the Season will be crowned in the 

build-up to the Grand Final. 

Here, we take a closer look at the 

Top Try Scorer and Ironman award 

winners and the performances 

that led to their prizes, which were 

awarded using URC StatMaster data 

provided by Oval Insights. 

TOP TRY SCORER: 

LEOLIN ZAS (DHL 

STORMERS) - 11 TRIES 

“It is incredible to think that 

I finished the regular season 

as the Top Try Scorer in the 

competition. A lot of those 

tries are down to the hard 

work of my teammates 

creating the opportunities for 

me to finish. I am grateful to 

them, the management, my 

family and our fans for the 

amazing support I have got 

this season.” 

Leolin Zas held on to his 

position at the top of the URC 

try-scoring charts in the face 

of some late competition from 

Benetton’s Rhyno Smith. 

Smith claimed seven tries in 

his last three appearances to 

pull level with Zas on 10 at the 

TOP TRy SCORER 

LEOLIN ZAS 

(DHL STORMERS) 

11 TRIES 

summit. 

However, Zas – who scored 

at least one try in each of his 

first six URC outings – grabbed 

the DHL Stormers’ first try in 

their Round 18 victory over the 

Scarlets to nudge back in front 

and claim the prize. 

Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom 

Bulls) and Seabelo Senatla 

(DHL Stormers) 

finished joint 

third on nine, 

with Edwill van 

der Merwe 

(Emirates 

Lions), Johan 

Grobbelaar 

(Vodacom 

Bulls) and 

Johnny 

McNicholl 

(Scarlets) 

another try 

further back. 

32

IRONMAN 

RUAN NORTJE 

(VODACOM BULLS) - 1,394 MINUTES 

IRONMAN: RUAN NORTJE 

(VODACOM BULLS) 

- 1,394 MINUTES 

“I am humbled and honoured 

to receive the United Rugby 

Championship Ironman Award 

for the 2021/22 season. To 

receive this recognition in a 

world-class competition with 

some of the most respected 

players is definitely something 

that will remain a highlight in my 

playing career for many years 

to come. I am grateful to the 

Vodacom Bulls, our director of 

rugby, Jake White, the coaching 

staff, my teammates and the 

supporters of the franchise 

for the faith and support they 

have all given and had in me. 

To be able to put on the blue 

jersey and play for the badge in 

such a premier championship 

is something I do not take 

lightly. I look forward to many 

more memories and matches 

in the URC” 

The award for having played the 

most minutes in the URC this 

season goes to Vodacom Bulls 

lock Ruan Nortje. 

The 23-year-old racked up 

1,394 minutes on the field of play 

and was one of only 14 players 

to feature in all 18 of their team’s 

matches. 

Nortje scored one try as the 

Vodacom Bulls achieved a fourthplace 

finish in the regular season 

and was second to Glasgow 

Warriors’ Richie Gray for line-out 

steals (9). 

The Vodacom Bulls dominated 

the top five when it came to 

minutes played, with Marcell 

Coetzee (1,296) third and Madosh 

Tambwe (1,295) fourth. 

DHL Stormers centre Ruhan Nel 

(1,339) was second while Cape 

Town colleague Manie Libbok 

(1,264) was fifth. 

URC AWARD WINNERS LIST 2021-22 

TACKLE MACHINE: ALAN O’CONNOR (ULSTER) | TURNOVER KING: JAC MORGAN (OSPREYS) | IRONMAN: RUAN NORTJE (VODACOM BULLS) 

GILBERT GOLDEN BOOT: GARETH ANSCOMBE (OSPREYS) | TOP TRY SCORER: LEOLIN ZAS (DHL STORMERS) 

FOLLOW THE URC AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS USING #URCAWARDS 


33

GRAND FINAL 


MATCHDAy SqUAD 


15 WARRICk GELANT 

14 SERGEAL PETERSON 

13 RUHAN NEL 

12 DAMIAN WILLEMSE 

11 SEABELO SENATLA 

10 MANIE LIBBOk 

9 HERSCHEL JANTJIES 

REPLACEMENTS FROM: 

16 ANDRE-HUGO VENTER, 17 BROk HARRIS, 18 NEETHLING FOUCHE, 

19 ERNST VAN RHyN, 20 JUNIOR POkOMELA, 21 NAMA xABA, 

22 GODLEN MASIMLA, 23 SACHA MNGOMEZULU 

1 STEVEN kITSHOFF (C) 

2 JJ kOTZE 

3 FRANS MALHERBE 

4 SALMAAN MOERAT 

5 MARVIN ORIE 

6 DEON FOURIE 

7 HACJIVAH DAyIMANI 

8 EVAN ROOS 

34

MATCHDAy SqUAD 

VODACOM BULLS 

15 KURT-LEE ARENDSE 

14 CANAN MOODIE 

13 CORNAL HENDRICkS 

12 HAROLD VORSTER 

11 MADOSH TAMBWE 

10 CHRIS SMITH 

9 ZAk BURGER 

1 GERHARD STEENEkAMP 

2 JOHAN GROBBELAAR 

3 MORNAy SMITH 

4 WALT STEENkAMP 

5 RUAN NORTJE 

6 MARCELL COETZEE 

7 ARNO BOTHA 

8 ELRIGH LOUW 

REPLACEMENTS FROM: 

16 BISMARCk DU PLESSIS, 17 SIMPHIWE MATANZIMA, 18 ROBERT HUNT, 

19 JANkO SWANEPOEL, 20 WJ STEENkAMP, 21 EMBROSE PAPIER, 

22 MORNE STEyN, 23 DAVID KRIEL 


35

GRAND FINAL 


COACH PROFILE 

JAKE WHITE 

F 

ifteen years may have 

passed since Jake 

White guided South 

Africa to World Cup 

glory but the Vodacom 

Bulls are now reaping the benefits 

of their Director of Rugby’s vast 

experience in the game. 

White was at the helm as the 

Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis 

Cup in 2007 – a triumph that arrived 

relatively early in his career as a 

senior head coach. 

The former PE teacher had been 

in charge since 2004 but this was his 

first high-profile job, having earlier 

led the country’s under-21s to a 

World Cup triumph of their own. 

He also served as a technical 

advisor to the Springboks during 

Nick Mallett’s tenure, as well as 

working as an assistant with the 

national team. 

White’s time in charge also saw 

South Africa win the Tri-Nations 

and climb from sixth to top of the 

world rankings. He was crowned 

Coach of the Year on two occasions 

and inducted into the World Rugby 

Hall of Fame. 

When he departed the Boks 

following their World Cup win, which 

was sealed with a 15-6 victory over 

defending champions England in Paris, 

White was still only 43 years old – a 

relative youngster in coaching terms. 

“ 

I’VE COACHED A 

LONG TIME NOW, 

SO yOU LEARN A 

COUPLE OF THOSE 

THINGS” 

White worked with the 

International Rugby Board from 

2008 to 2012 before returning to 

coaching with the Brumbies. 

During his time in Australia, the 

Brumbies overcame the Bulls 

in a Super Rugby semi-final in 

Pretoria in what White described 

as the Canberra outfit’s “greatest” 

win while they also achieved a 

memorable victory over the touring 

British and Irish Lions. 

White spent a season in charge of 

the Cell C Sharks in 2014, guiding 

the Durban outfit to the Super 

Rugby semi-finals, before a stint on 

the staff with Tonga. 

His three years at French club 

Montpellier yielded an EPCR 

Challenge Cup trophy, beating 

Harlequins in the 2016 final, before 

his globe-trotting career took him 

to Japan for a similar-length stint in 

charge of Toyota Verblitz. 

The Bulls came calling in 2020 

and, upon his appointment, White 

highlighted the need to “rebuild a 

winning culture at Loftus”. 

He has since overseen back-toback 

Currie Cup triumphs as well as 

guiding the Bulls to victory in Super 

Rugby Unlocked in 2020. 

Saturday’s Vodacom United 

Rugby Championship Grand Final 

against the DHL Stormers marks 

an opportunity to land the biggest 

title of his Bulls tenure to date and 

White says he has never stopped 

learning despite his early successes 

as a head coach. 

“I’ve coached a long time now, so 

you learn a couple of those things,” 

he said when praised for his team’s 

ingenuity in their Final Four victory 

at Leinster. 

“I’ve coached in Japan, coached 

in France and coached at the 

Brumbies, so I think (I’ve learned) 

along the way. 

“One of the things we worked hard 

on is that probably the Bulls were 

well known for certain areas of the 

game which we do well but if you 

can tweak it and bring a couple of 

new things in it obviously adds a 

little bit of a dimension to our game.” 

White is among an exclusive band 

of coaches who have lifted rugby’s 

biggest prize but his hunger to win 

remains undiminished as he bids 

to lead the Bulls to the inaugural 

URC title. 

36

LIGHTNING-LIKE 

LOUW ADDS TO THE 

CAPE STORM 

At some point in their story, every great player is 

identified as a talent destined for legendary status, 

and Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White very 

quickly recognised the star quality of Elrigh Louw. 

‘I’ve got no doubt Elrigh will go to the top, he’s got 

everything.’ These were White’s words in October, 2021. 

At that point, the Vodacom Bulls opened the Vodacom 

United Rugby Championship with heavy losses to 

Leinster (31-3) and Connacht (34-7) in Ireland before 

Louw hurtled over for a try in a 29-19 win at Cardiff. 

Eight months later and Louw, now 22, has scored four 

tries in 19 appearances, is fresh off a 

“ 

monumental semi-final victory against 

Leinster that catapulted the fourthseeded 

Vodacom Bulls into an all-South 

African Vodacom URC final against the 

DHL Stormers, and has been named in 

the Springbok squad for the upcoming 

international season. 

White is more surprised by the victory 

over the log-leaders in Dublin than Louw’s Bok inclusion. 

The man who coached the Springboks to Rugby 

World Cup glory in 2007 believes the young Vodacom 

Bulls titan compares favourably with one of South 

Africa’s greatest forwards. 

‘Elrigh is a Juan Smith in the making, and I don’t say 

that lightly because Juan wasn’t the norm,’ said White. 

‘Juan Smith finished his career as a brilliant, seasoned 

campaigner but I remember what he was like as a 

20-year-old. Elrigh reminds me of a young Juan.’ 

Like Smith, Louw is a hard-nosed competitor who has little 

use for rest and no comprehension of the word ‘compromise’ 

when it comes to confrontation on the rugby field. 

‘Elrigh is skilful, runs good support lines and is not 

scared to be out wide or close in. He’s not a guy who 

can only carry in tight spaces, he’s just as comfortable 

taking on backs in space on the edge.’ 

Far from being an outspoken protagonist, the 

Vodacom Bulls back rower unleashes heavyweight 

blows with the demeanour of an experienced 

construction worker laying brick. 

With the builder, it requires patient attention to 

recognise that a wall is being built, and in the case of 

Louw, it takes some time to appreciate the impact of 

his unremitting work-rate in breaking down the will of 

opposing players to halt his runs and 

I’VE GOT NO DOUBT 

ELRIGH WILL GO TO 

THE TOP, HE’S GOT 

EVERyTHING” 

carry the ball into his broad shoulders. 

Louw is also an accomplished 

lineout weapon, the successful target 

of 33 lineout throws this season 

to rank among the Vodacom Bulls’ 

three most-effective jumpers. This 

will stand him in good stead with the 

national team as he looks set to serve 

as an understudy to Pieter-Steph du Toit, the 2019 

World Rugby Player of the Year, himself no stranger to 

soaring in the lineout. 

But between now and a possible Bok debut against 

Wales in July lies the biggest match of Louw’s 

fledgling career. 

A showdown against South Africa’s top contenders 

in Cape Town is the formidable challenge hindering 

Louw’s access to the Vodacom URC trophy. 

He will be dauntless, as he was in last week’s 

semi-final when the young and fearless Vodacom 

Bulls stormed Dublin, and Louw thundered through 

Leinster’s celebrated pack to book a date with destiny. 


37

GRAND FINAL 


2021/22 SEASON 

VODACOM 

BULLS 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

kURT-LEE ARENDSE 

ARNO BOTHA 

ZAk BURGER 

MARCELL COETZEE 

CY 

CMY 

K 

UTILITy BACk 

DOB: 7 JUNE 1996 

HEIGHT: 1.80M 

WEIGHT: 76KG 

FLANk 

DOB: 26 OCTOBER 1991 

HEIGHT: 1.89M 

WEIGHT: 108KG 

SCRUMHALF 

DOB: 20 AUGUST 1998 

HEIGHT: 1.74M 

WEIGHT: 83KG 

FLANk 

DOB: 8 MAY 1991 

HEIGHT: 1.93M 

WEIGHT: 116KG 

ROBERT HUNT 

CORNAL HENDRICkS 

JOHAN GROBBELAAR 

BISMARCk DU PLESSIS 

HOOkER 

DOB: 22 MAY 1984 

HEIGHT: 1.89M 

WEIGHT: 115KG 

POSITION: HOOkER 

HOOkER 

DOB: 30 DECEMBER 1997 

HEIGHT: 1.82 

WEIGHT: 98KG 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

DOB: 18 APRIL 1988 

HEIGHT: 1.88M 

WEIGHT: 95KG 

TIGHTHEAD PROP 


HEIGHT: 1.85M 

WEIGHT: 122KG 

38

GRAND FINAL 


DAVID kRIEL RUAN NORTJE 

WING 

DOB: 15 FEBRUARY 1999 

HEIGHT: 1.94M 

WEIGHT: 94KG 

ELRIGH LOUW 

EMBROSE PAPIER 

NO.8 

DOB: 20 SEPT 1999 

HEIGHT: 1.95M 

WEIGHT: 112KG 

SIMPHIWE MATANZIMA 

CHRIS SMITH 

LOOSEHEAD PROP 


HEIGHT: 1.82M 

WEIGHT: 115KG 

CANAN MOODIE 

MORNAy SMITH 

FULLBACk 

DOB: 5 NOVEMBER 2002 

HEIGHT: 1.90M 

WEIGHT: 90KG 

LOCk 

DOB: 25 JULY 1998 

HEIGHT: 2.01M 

WEIGHT: 113KG 

SCRUMHALF 


HEIGHT: 1.71M 

WEIGHT: 80KG 

FLyHALF 

DOB: 9 SEPTEMBER 1994 

HEIGHT: 1.81M 

WEIGHT: 86KG 

TIGHTHEAD PROP 

DOB: 30 JANUARY 1998 

HEIGHT: 1.81M 

WEIGHT: 110KG 

MORNE STEyN 

WJ STEENkAMP 

WALT STEENkAMP 

GERHARD STEENEkAMP 

LOOSEHEAD PROP 


HEIGHT: 1.94M 

WEIGHT: 128KG 

LOCk 

DOB: 21 JULY 1995 

HEIGHT: 2.02M 

WEIGHT: 121KG 

LOOSE-FORWARD 

DOB: 28 SEPT 2000 

HEIGHT: 1.90M 

WEIGHT: 106KG 

FLyHALF 

DOB: 11 JULY 1984 

HEIGHT: 1.84M 

WEIGHT: 91KG 

HAROLD VORSTER 

MADOSH TAMBWE 

JANkO SWANEPOEL 

LOCk 

DOB: 8 SEPTEMBER 1999 

HEIGHT: 2.01M 

WEIGHT: 109KG 

WING 

DOB: 12 MAY 1997 

HEIGHT: 1.86M 

WEIGHT: 92KG 

INSIDE CENTRE 

DOB: 11 OCTOBER 1993 

HEIGHT: 1.86M 

WEIGHT: 94KG 

40

Proud sponsors of both 

DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls

GRAND FINAL 


URC NEWS 

MORE FANS WATCHING THE 

URC THAN EVER BEFORE 

More fans are watching the United Rugby Championship than ever 

before the world’s most diverse and exciting club rugby competition 

continues to set new records for broadcast audiences. 

B 

y the end of the Round 

12 fixtures the URC 

broke the league’s 

previous benchmark of 

12.9million viewers with 

13.2million tuning in and now by the 

end of April that figure has climbed 

dramatically to over 20.1million! 

The consolidated audience data 

(supplied by Nielsen Sports) 

suggests that the audiences will 

strengthen even further by the 

end of the campaign with Rounds 

17, 18 and the Play-Offs still to be 

accounted for. 

The URC averages well over 1 

million viewers per round and is 

supported by the wide array of 

broadcast partnerships across 

the league’s core territories. With 

a mix of Free-to-Air and Pay TV 

broadcasters, the URC is available 

on BBC Northern Ireland, BBC 

Wales, RTÉ, TG4, Mediaset, 

Premier Sports and SuperSport 

who have driven up the audience 

numbers thanks to the high levels 

of coverage and their commitment 

to showcasing the crosshemisphere 

competition. 

Martin Anayi , CEO of the United 

Rugby Championship, said: 

“These broadcast audiences 

provide a terrific pulse check for the 

United Rugby Championship. More 

eyeballs on our games translates into 

increased talkability of the league 

which is really evident across social 

media where we are exceeding all of 

our growth ambitions. 

“Ultimately, the excitement on the 

pitch coupled to the intrigue of the 

big four South African teams joining 

the league has provided a great 

draw but it’s been a real collaborative 

effort from our broadcast partners 

and the league to maximise that 

interest. Internally, we have invested 

in personnel and resources to drive 

up the look and feel of our TV 

product and we are really excited 

about how our broadcast partners 

have bought into that vision. 

“We know fans in the UK and 

Ireland were excited about their 

teams being back on RTÉ and BBC 

and in tandem with TG4 and S4C 

they are offering more Free-to-Air 

coverage. Premier Sport, without 

whom we would not have been able 

to adopt the ‘every game live’ model, 

have seen their viewership increase 

and in South Africa SuperSport are 

setting a high bar in showcasing the 

URC to one of the biggest markets 

in our league. 

“What’s just as encouraging is 

that in Italy, thanks to Mediaset’s 

coverage, where we have hit 1 million 

viewers for the first time ever. When 

you combine all of this then you can 

see really strong foundations for 

the URC to build from and continue 

to grow the interest in our sport 

ahead of what appears to be an 

unpredictable end to the season.” 

42


43

GRAND FINAL 


WELCOME 

SOUTH AFRICA 

Leagues welcome inclusion of South African clubs in EPCR tournaments 

ollowing confirmation 

of the inclusion of 

clubs from South 

Africa in the Heineken 

Champions Cup and 

EPCR Challenge Cup for the 

2022/23 season and beyond, 

Europe’s three main professional 

leagues have expressed their 

approval of the historic expansion 

of EPCR’s tournaments. 

The Cape Town-based Stormers, 

the Bulls from Pretoria and 

the Durban-based Sharks will 

compete in next season’s Heineken 

Champions Cup, while the Lions 

from Johannesburg will fly the 

flag for South Africa in the EPCR 

Challenge Cup. 

In addition to the four 

qualifiers from the United Rugby 

Championship, the Bloemfontein- 

44 

F 

based Cheetahs have been invited 

to participate in the 2022/23 EPCR 

Challenge Cup. 

Commenting on the major 

development for the club game 

in both the northern and southern 

hemispheres, United Rugby 

Championship Chief Executive and 

EPCR Board member, Martin Anayi, 

said: “The entry of the South African 

“It is 

mouthwatering 

to see the 

Stormers, Bulls 

and Sharks all 

involved in our 

Play-Offs 

clubs to the URC has revitalised our 

league, created new rivalries and 

driven up the levels of competition. 

“It is mouthwatering to see 

the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks 

all involved in our Play-Offs and 

their presence is making a major 

impact on broadcast audiences 

and fan engagement. Adding 

the opportunity for these clubs, 

as well as for the Cheetahs, to 

compete in EPCR’s competitions 

will only strengthen what are two 

of the world’s elite club rugby 

competitions.” 

Premiership Rugby Chief 

Executive and EPCR Board 

member, Simon Massie-Taylor, 

added: “It is very exciting to have 

these five South African clubs 

joining EPCR’s tournaments. Their 

inclusion will take the competitions 

to a new level of intensity for the

WELCOME TO 

CAPE TOWN 

Welcome to DHL Stadium in Cape Town! We welcome visitors, the Blue Bulls fans and players to the 

Mother City. As Mayor of Cape Town, I am excited to be joining thousands of fans for the first United 

Rugby Championship to feature two proudly South African teams. 

Few things compare to the roar of fans cheering on their teams to victory. Sport in South Africa 

has long been a unifier, with all of us looking back fondly at the many sporting milestones we have 

achieved as a country. 

We are ready for bigger crowds and reiterate our call for all remaining capacity limitations on stadium 

crowds to be lifted, so that our sports teams can again play to sold-out crowds. 

I look forward to the thrill of this URC Final with thousands of rugby fans and see the DHL Stadium 

come to life. 

Geordin Hill-Lewis 

Cape Town Mayor

GRAND FINAL 


players and enjoyment for the fans. 

“Our Premiership clubs are looking 

forward to playing against some of 

the best the southern hemisphere 

has to offer and matching up 

against players from South Africa’s 

Rugby World Cup 2019 winning side. 

“It is a big step forward in 

expanding the reach of these 

unique and special tournaments, 

and bringing world-class, 

international club rugby to new 

audiences.” 

League Nationale de Rugby 

Director General and EPCR Board 

member, Emmanuel Eschalier, said: 

“The arrival next season of the four 

South African clubs competing in 

the URC, as well as the Cheetahs, 

is a major development for EPCR’s 

competitions. 

“The participation of these 

high-level clubs will strengthen the 

appeal and sporting intensity of 

the Heineken Champions Cup and 

the EPCR Challenge Cup with the 

potential for further development of 

these great competitions.” 

“It is a big 

step forward 

in expanding 

the reach of 

these unique 

and special 

tournaments 

The South African clubs in the 

Heineken Champions Cup will be 

in the mix against newly-crowned 

winners, Stade Rochelais, who 

lifted the trophy for the first time 

in dramatic style in Marseille last 

weekend, as well as Lyon who also 

claimed a historic first European title 

when they won the EPCR Challenge 

Cup final. 

EPCR welcomed over 110,000 

fans to the Stade Vélodrome over 

the course of the two finals with 

a record EPCR Challenge Cup 

attendance of 51,431 witnessing 

Lyon’s victory over RC Toulon, while 

59,682 went through the turnstiles 

for last Saturday’s showpiece match 

between Stade Rochelais and 

Leinster. 

The formats for next season’s 

Heineken Champions Cup and 

EPCR Challenge Cup will be 

announced shortly, in conjunction 

with details of the Pool Draws for 

both tournaments which will be 

staged towards the end of the 

month. 

During the 2022/23 season, EPCR 

will continue to be supported by 

Heineken as the title partner of the 

Heineken Champions Cup, as well as 

by EPCR’s Official Logistics Partner 

DHL and Official Hotels Partner 

IHG Hotels & Resorts amongst 

others, with future exciting partner 

announcements expected in the 

near future. 

The 2023 Finals weekend is 

scheduled for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium 

on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 May. 

46

GRAND FINAL 


PLAyER STATISTICS 2021/22 

VODACOM BULLS 

TOP 3 OFFLOADS 

MARCELL COETZEE MADOSH TAMBWE LIONEL MAPOE 

34 22 16 

KURT-LEE ARENDSE 

991 

METRES GAINED 

TOP 5 TURNOVERS WON 

MARCELL COETZEE 13 

ARNO BOTHA 11 

BISMARCK DU PLESSIS 10 

CYLE BRINK 6 

RUAN NORTJE 5 

185 

MARCELL 

COETZEE 

176 

ELRIGH 

LOUW 

126 

ARNO 

BOTHA 

122 

HAROLD 

VORSTER 

114 

RUAN 

NORTJE 

TOTAL 

CARRIES 

48

BOLD IS POWER 

The All-New ISUZU D-MAX. Our Boldest Bakkie yet. 

Model/s shown may differ. E&OE.

TOP 5 CLEAN BREAKS 

KURT-LEE 

ARENDSE 

MADOSH 

TAMBWE 

CORNAL 

HENDRICKS 

CANAN 

MOODIE 

ZAK 

BURGER 

23 20 11 8 8 

169 

TOTAL 

TACkLES 

MARCELL COETZEE 

100 

TOTAL 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

CHRIS 

SMITH 

MORNE 

STEYN 

ZAK 

BURGER 

kICkS 

IN PLAy 

86 

66 61 60 

EMBROSE 

PAPIER 

25 

JOHAN 

GOOSEN 

ZAK 

BURGER 

515 

TOTAL 

PASSES 


51

GRAND FINAL 


DHL STORMERS’ BACk-ROW 

EVAN ROOS IS THE URC’S 

NExT-GEN STAR OF THE 

SEASON FOR 2021-22 

T 

his award is open only 

to players aged under 

23 at the start of the 

season and who have 

earned no more than 

five international caps at that point, 

with a media panel voting for the 

winner. Players are also required to 

have made a minimum of nine URC 

appearances to qualify. 

Roos, 22, has had a stand-out 

campaign for the Cape Town outfit, 

proving himself a destructive ball 

carrier with more successful carries 

(126) and defenders beaten (49) than 

any other player in the competition 

over the 18 rounds. 

“ 

IT IS A HUGE 

HONOUR TO GET 

THIS AWARD, I AM 

SO GRATEFUL TO 

EVERyONE WHO 

HAS SUPPORTED 

ME THIS SEASON” 

Roos said: “It is a huge honour to 

get this award, I am so grateful to 

everyone who has supported me 

this season. My family is a great 

source of strength and pride for me 

and everyone involved in the DHL 

Stormers set-up has been amazing 

as well. I am so proud to play for 

this team and our incredible fans 

every week.” 

His performances this term have 

seen growing calls for him to be 

given a chance to shine in the 

Springbok jersey. 

He was overlooked for the first of 

two South Africa alignment camps 

in April but made himself impossible 

to ignore with his subsequent 

displays and was called up for the 

second last month ahead of the 

coming home Tests against Wales. 

Following a Round 16 win against 

Glasgow Warriors in which Roos 

made a match-leading 10 successful 

carries, beat five defenders and 

scored a late try, South Africa 

director of rugby Rassie 

Erasmus tweeted: “Well 

done Evan Roos, 

that’s how you react 

to disappointment 

and make sure 

you can’t be 

ignored!” 

It seems 

certain Test 

honours will 

soon follow 

for Roos, 

who carried 

his regularseason 

form into the 

play-offs by 

putting in a URC 

Man of the Match 

performance against 

Edinburgh Rugby in the 

Final Eight. 

Roos was earlier this week 

named in the URC Dream 

Team along with four of his 

DHL Stormers colleagues. 

52

THE URC 

DREAM TEAM 

HAS BEEN NAMED 

SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYERS 

DOMINATE THE UNITED RUGBY 

CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM TEAM 

FOR THE 2021-22 SEASON. 

Following the addition of the 

Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, 

Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers 

to the competition for the 

inaugural URC campaign, South 

African franchises account for 10 

members of a 15-man selection 

determined by a media vote. 

The DHL Stormers are the bestrepresented 

side with five players 

making the cut. URC Top Try 

Scorer Leolin Zas is among four 

backs from the Cape Town outfit 

included. 

The Vodacom Bulls contribute 

three players, including Ironman 

Ruan Nortje, and the Cell C 

Sharks with two. 

Ulster duo Nick Timoney and 

James Hume, Leinster fly-half 

Ross Byrne and Munster scrumhalf 

Craig Casey and second row 

Jean Kleyn make up the non- 

South African contingent. 

Players had to have made a 

minimum of nine appearances 

to be considered, with the media 

panel given a shortlist of 10 

players per position, provided by 

URC StatMaster. The player with 

the most votes in each position 

earned a place in the team. 

URC DREAM TEAM 

1. Ox NCHE (CELL C SHARkS) 

2. JOHAN GROBBELAAR (VODACOM BULLS) 

3. THOMAS DU TOIT (CELL C SHARkS) 

4. JEAN kLEyN (MUNSTER) 

5. RUAN NORTJE (VODACOM BULLS) 

6. MARCELL COETZEE (VODACOM BULLS) 

7. NICk TIMONEy (ULSTER) 

8. EVAN ROOS (DHL STORMERS) 

9. CRAIG CASEy (MUNSTER) 

10. ROSS ByRNE (LEINSTER) 

11. LEOLIN ZAS (DHL STORMERS) 

12. DAMIAN WILLEMSE (DHL STORMERS) 

13. JAMES HUME (ULSTER) 

14. SEABELO SENATLA (DHL STORMERS) 

15. WARRICk GELANT (DHL STORMERS) 


53

EVERY MEAL;S BEST FRIEND

16 TEAMS, 

2 HEMISPHERES, 

1 LEAGUE

GRAND FINAL 


PLAyOFF RECORDS 

2002-02 AND 2010 TO DATE 

Note: Including quarter-finals in 2002 & 2003, Top six playoffs in 2018 & 2019, semi-finals in 2002 & 2003 and 

from 2010 to 2020, and finals in 2002, 2003 and 2010 to date. Not including last year’s Rainbow Cup final. 

TEAM PLAy-OFF MATCH RECORDS 

LEINSTER 76-GLASGOW 14 

HIGHEST 

SCORE 

76 

LEINSTER 76-GLASGOW 14 

BIGGEST 

VICTORY 

62 

2022 QUARTER-FINAL 

2022 QUARTER-FINAL 

MUNSTER 33-CONNACHT 3, LEINSTER 18-ULSTER 3, 

MUNSTER 23-OSPREYS 3 & LEINSTER 13-MUNSTER 3 

LOWEST 

SCORE 

2002 QF, 2011 SF, 2017 SF, 2020 SF 

3 

PONTYPIRDD 12-NEATH 13, OSPREYS 31-LEINSTER 30, 

GLASGOW 16-MUNSTER 15 & LEINSTER 16, MUNSTER 15, 

LEINSTER 26-VODACOM BULLS 27 

CLOSEST 

MATCH 

2002 QF, 2012 F, 2014, 2018, 2022 SF 

1 

MOST 

TRIES 

12 

LEINSTER 76, GLASGOW 14 

2022 (QF) 

MOST 

CONVERSIONS 

LEINSTER 76, GLASGOW 14 

2022 (QF)8 

ULSTER 38-NEATH 29 

MOST 

PENALTY 

GOALS 

2001 QF 

MOST 

DROP 

GOALS 

ON FOUR OCCASSIONS 

35 

35 

LEINSTER 76-GLASGOW 

90 

14 

MOST 

COMBINED 

POINTS 

2022 QF 

LEINSTER 13-MUNSTER 3 

LOWEST 

COMBINED 

POINTS 

2020 SF 

16 

56

INDIVIDUAL MATCH RECORDS IN ONE PLAy-OFF MATCH 

QUICKEST TRY 

3MINS 

Ian Keatley Munster v Ospreys 2012 (SF) 

Shane Jennings Leinster v Ulster 2013 (Final) 

Tommy Seymour Glasgow v Ulster 2019 (SF) 

MOST POINTS MOST TRIES MOST CONVERSIONS MOST PENALTY GOALS 

28 3 8 8 

DAVID 

HUMPHREYS 

Ulster v Neath 

2001 (QF) 

JOHNNY 

McNICHOLL 

Scarltes v Leinster 

2018 (Final) 

HARRY 

BYRNE 

Leinster v Glasgow 

2022 (QF) 

MOST DROP GOALS 

LEE JARVIS Neath v Ulster 2001 (QF) 

ERIC ELWOOD Connacht v Glasgow 2001 (QF) 

LEE JARVIS Neath v Munster 2003 (Final) 

RONAN O’GARA Munster v Leinster 2010 (SF)1 

DAVID 

HUMPHREYS 

Ulster v Neath 

2001 (QF) 


57

GRAND FINAL 


MOST 

CAREER 

POINTS IN 

PLAY-OFF 

MATCHES 

144 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

LEINSTER 

58

GET INVOLVED 

FOLLOW 

ALL THE 

ACTION 

URCOFFICIAL URCOFFICIAL URCOFFICIAL URC 

#ALLFOR1

CAREER MATCH RECORDS IN ONE PLAy-OFF MATCH 

SEAN CRONIN 

MOST 

TRIES 

LEINSTER 

5 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

MOST 

CONVERSIONS 

LEINSTER 

15 

JOHNNY SEXTON 

MOST 

PENALTY 

GOALS 

LEINSTER 

YOUNGEST 

PLAYER 

38 

YOUNGEST 

STARTER 

KEELAN GILES 

Ospreys v Munster 

2017 (SF) 

LEE JARVIS 

MOST 

DROP 

GOALS 

NEATH 

19yEARS 

111DAyS 

YOUNGEST 

CAPTAIN 

JONNY GRAY 

Glasgow v Connacht 

2016 (SF) 

2 

22yEARS 

68DAyS 

19yEARS 

4DAyS 

DUNCAN WEIR 

GLASGOW V OSPREYS 2010 SF 

OLDEST 

PLAYER 

YOUNGEST 

POINT 

SCORER 

STUART HOGG 

Glasgow v Leinster 

2012 (SF) 

OLDEST 

STARTER 

JOHN HAYES 

Munster v Leinster 

2011 (Final) 

19yEARS 

322DAyS 

37yEARS 

207DAyS 

YOUNGEST 

TRY 

SCORER 

STUART HOGG 

Glasgow v Leinster 

2012 (SF) 

OLDEST 

CAPTAIN 

RORY BEST 

Ulster v Glasgow 

2019 (SF) 

19yEARS 

322DAyS 

36yEARS 

275DAyS 

38yEARS 

360DAyS 

FILO TIATIA 

OSPREYS V LEINSTER 2010 F 

OLDEST 

POINT 

SCORER 

MICK GALWEY 

Munster v Ulster 

2003 (SF) 

36yEARS 

87DAyS 

OLDEST 

TRY 

SCORER 

MICK GALWEY 

Munster v Ulster 

2003 (SF) 

36yEARS 

87DAyS 


61

GRAND FINAL 


A MOMENT IN TIME 

A kick in time: Morné Steyn strikes a late 

penalty for the Vodacom Bulls at the RDS 

Arena in Dublin during his side’s Final Four 

clash with Leinster. The successful strike put 

the Vodacom Bulls into an eight-point lead 

that their opponents could not overcome. 

Credit: inpho.ie 

62


63

GRAND FINAL 


ANDREW BRACE 

MAN IN THE 

MIDDLE 

A 

ndrew Brace has 

been appointed as 

the match referee for 

this today’s Vodacom 

United Rugby 

Championship Grand Final 

between the DHL Stormers and 

the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town. 

It is the second time Brace has 

been handed the responsibility 

for the league decider having held 

the whistle for the 2021 PRO14 

Final between Leinster and Ulster 

in Dublin. 

Brace, who turned 34 last 

month, made his league debut in 

September 2015 when he took 

charge of Cardiff Blues v Zebre 

and since then has gone to referee 

knock-out matches in the PRO14, 

EPCR Challenge Cup and the 

Heineken Champions Cup. 

In 2018, the Irish official refereed 

his first Tier One fixture (Argentina 

v Wales), he was then appointed 

as an assistant referee for the 

2019 Rugby World Cup and shortly 

afterwards he made his Six Nations 

debut in 2020 (France v Italy). 

In addition to the Vodacom URC 

Grand Final, Brace will also take 

charge of one of England’s three 

Test matches in Australia next 

month. For this weekend’s game 

Brace will be assisted by Jaco 

Peyper and AJ Jacobs (both 

SARU). 

ExTRA TIME 

PROTOCOL 

If the score is tied at the end of 

a Knock-Out Match, then extra 

time will be played, consisting 

of two periods, each of ten 

minutes plus any stoppage time 

in each period. 

At the final whistle signalling the 

end of normal time in the Match, 

there will be a five minute break. 

Neither the teams nor the Match 

officials may leave the Playing 

Enclosure during this break, save 

for exceptional reasons. The 

coaching/management/medical 

staff of each Club shall be 

permitted onto the Playing Area 

during this break to bring water, 

nourishment and treatment to 

their Players, but they must leave 

the Playing Area before the end 

of the break. 

After the five-minute break, 

the teams will swap ends and the 

Club that kicked off the first half 

of the Match will kick off the first 

period of extra time. After ten 

minutes the referee will stop the 

Match and the teams will swap 

ends again while there is a break 

of one minute. Neither the teams 

nor the Match officials may leave 

the Playing Enclosure during 

this break, save for exceptional 

reasons. The coaching/ 

management/medical staff of 

each Club shall be permitted onto 

the Playing Area during the break 

to bring water, nourishment and 

treatment to their Players, but 

they must leave the Playing Area 

before the end of the break. 

After the one-minute break, the 

Club that kicked off the second 

half of the Match will kick off 

the second period of extra time. 

After ten minutes the referee will 

stop the Match. If at that point 

there is no winner of the Match 

according to the criteria set out 

in the Tournament Rules, then 

the referee will conduct a placekick 

competition to determine 

the winner. 

64

WIN 

WIN 

WIN 

VISIT GRANDFINAL.UNITEDRUGBY.COM TO ENTER 

Terms & Conditions apply 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR 

MATCHDAY 

EXPERIENCE 

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TODAy’S 

MASCOTS 

JOAH kRIEk 

The most passionate young rugby fan, turned 

5 last week. He is one of the DHL Stormers 

biggest supporters, has not took of his jersey for 

the last 3 weeks! Loves rugby, loves the DHL 

Stormers and can’t wait for the big game! 

THE FOURIE kIDS 

JAMIE 

AGE 4 

BRINLEy 

AGE 1 

Daddy Deon Fourie believes Brinley will be the future star prop of the SA 

womens team, she loves balls and playing “rugby” with her Dad. Jamie is 

strong willed and fiesty, and although he loves watching his Dad play on 

TV, he would much rather go to Spur (SA franchise family restaurant). 


GRAND FINAL 

DHL STORMER VS VODACOM BULLS 

STADIUM INFORMATION 

TICkET INFORMATION 2022 

According to current government 

COVID-19 protocols for sporting 

fixtures in South Africa, rugby 

venues are permitted to accept up to 

50 percent capacity for vaccinated 

or COVID-19 negative attendees. 

All spectators attending Vodacom 

United Rugby Championship or 

Carling Currie Cup matches at 

DHL Stadium must provide proof 

of full vaccination or a negative 

COVID-19 test taken within 72 

hours of the match. 

Tickets for the Vodacom URC 

Grand Final are available only from 

the Ticketpro website. 

Callouts will be stationed at the 

stadium offering Rapid Antigen 

testing at R 150 at the Main West 

Gates 1 – 11, between 15h00 and 

19h00. Results will be available 

within 15 minutes of testing. Under 

12s do not need to provide any 

documentation as they cannot be 

vaccinated. 

Your vaccination certificate or 

negative COVID-19 test must be 

presented along with your ID on 

entry to any match at DHL Stadium. 

All those attending will have to 

adhere to government regulations 

by following to the correct social 

distancing protocols by staying 

one metre apart and wearing a 

medical mask when indoors. Masks 

are no longer required to be worn 

in open air spaces but are in indoor 

areas – all spectators must please 

still bring a mask to the stadium for 

use in venues/areas considered to 

be indoors. 

FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH 

DISABILITIES 

The stadium has disabled seats 

which can be accessed via the all 

access ramp on Fritz Sonnenberg 

Road. Seating for guests and their 

caregivers is located on level 02 

(podium). 

Disabled toilets are available 

exclusively for our guests with 

disabilities and are located on 

level 02. 

Disabled seating and parking 

facilities, may be booked through 

the event organizer for each 

event. 

Public transport services and 

parking facilities for the disabled 

may differ from event to event. 

Please visit our events page for 

event specific details. 

Elevators in all foyers provide 

wheelchair access to our business, 

banqueting and hospitality levels 

and facilities. 

PROHIBITED ITEMS 

List of prohibited items for events 

at DHL Stadium. 

• Umbrellas 

• Bottles: Cans, glass or Plastic bottles 

of any kind including squeezer bottles 

• Firearms, ammunition or device as 

defined in the Firearms Control Act, 

2000 (Act No.60 of 2000) 

• Fireworks 

• Sharp metal objects 

• Explosives 

• Tear gas, mace or similar airborne 

chemical agents 

• Narcotics 

• Items which could cause injury 

• Banners or flags with, racist, sexist, 

discriminatory or offensive content 

• Flagpole or banner pole of any kind, 

unless it is made from inflammable 

and flexible plastic and does not 

exceed 1 metre in length 1cm in diameter 

• Ambush marketing items 

• Animals 

• Liquor 

• Drunkenness and unacceptable 

behavior 

• Dangerous weapons as defined in 

• Dangerous Weapon Act, 1968 (Act 

No.71 of 1968) including Knifes and sticks 

• Unauthorized Cameras with 

detachable lenses 

• Fraudulent tickets and ticket holder 

68

DHL Stadium FAST FACTS 

1. CONSTRUCTION 

The DHL Stadium was built on 

part of the 9-hole Metropolitan 

Golf Course which was established 

1895. The golf club and the city 

came to a consensus that the 

Stadium could be built on 5 of the 

greens provided the City of Cape 

Town developed 5 new greens for 

the Metropolitan Golf Course on 

the opposite road. DHL Stadium is 

a multi – purpose venue. 

Construction Quick FACTS 

• Planning started in 2004 after winning 

the bid to host the FIFA 2010 World Cup; 

• Sod Turning: 20 March 2007 ; 

• Construction started: 26 March 2007 ; 

• Date Completed: 14 December 2009 

(33 months to completion); 

• Concept Designed by German Company: 

Robert Hormes GMP Architekten 

• Detailed Design: Louis Karol and Point 

Architects (SA) Shape of Abalone shell, 

seats are to give a pearly effect; 

• Total Cost: R 4, 5 Billion; 

• +- 2 500 workers on site during 

construction period; 

• +- 1 200 artisans trained; 

• Contract was awarded to Murray 

& Roberts (M & R), WBHO (50 plus 

different consulting practices, 70 – 80 

subcontractors). 

ROOF 

• Roof Design engineers, Schlaich 

Bergman and Partner (Stuttgart) 

requested that a wind tunnel testing to be 

done to verify design wind pressures; 

• Built to withstand winds and turbulence. 

The inner roof edge can lift up by 1.8m 

over a period of 15 minutes; Detail roof 

design could only start after receiving 

wind tunnel report; 

• Structural design of roof is like a half 

flat bicycle wheel with rims and spokes, 

with a tension ring on the inner edge 

and compression ring on the outer edge 

connected to each other by radial cables; 

• Mesh fabric under the steel cables and 

trusses, translucent opaque glass over 

the seated area to counter heat load, with 

the translucent fabric ceiling giving access 

to lighting and ventilation below, while 

transparent glass covers the inner cantilever; 

• Covers 37 000 square meters; 

• Contains 7,5 km of steel cabling; 

• Top layer of roof made up of 9000 

laminated safety glass panels, 250 

000 bolts, 20 000 steel pieces, and 

16mm thick protect spectators from 

strong winds and rain, but also let in 

light. Most of the glass is coated in a 

white ceramic paint; 

• The glass is the only cladding material 

that was heavy enough to exceed the 

total suction that would prevent the roof 

from lifting up; 

Stadium Structure: Quick FACTS 

• Stadium Site Area 56 990m² 

• Podium Perimeter 

1 336m 

• Stadium Perimeter 

745m 

• Stadium Length 

290m 

• Stadium Width 

265m 

• Stadium Height 

50m 

• Roof Area 40 000m² 

• Roof Weight 

3 735 tons 

• Outer Membrane Façade 27 500m² 

• Inner Roof Membrane 31 000m² 

• Floor Space 116 290m² 

• Concrete Used 96 000m³ 

• Bricks Used 5 234 000 

• Balustrades Total Length 4 480m 

• Handrails Total Length 

2 230m 

• Number of concrete column bases 562 

• Length of concrete columns 6 526 m 

• Pitch Area 13 535m² 

• Pitch Playing Surface 11749m² 

• Rugby pitch dimensions 

100m x 68 m & goal area 8m 

• 87 Turnstiles, 3 Main Gates 

• 8 027 signs installed at a density of 

1,2 per square metre 

• 112 CCTV operated from a Control Room 

• 178 Media Seats 

• Internal Parking 900 Bays 

• Venue Operations Centre (VOC) 

• 887 Toilets 

• 248 VIP Suites 

• Medical Centre & Police Station 

• 253 -wheel chair bays 

• Four Changing Rooms 396m² 

THERE’S THERE’S 

GOLD GOLD INSIDE. INSIDE.

DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls

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