Bulls and Sharks Book URC Semi-Final Date in Pretoria Showdown
South Africa’s legacy in the United Rugby Championship (URC) remains intact as two of the nation’s heavyweights – the Bulls and Sharks – stormed into the semi-finals with dramatic victories over the weekend. The stage is now set for a high-stakes derby in Pretoria this Saturday, ensuring a South African representative in yet another URC final.
Since the competition’s rebranding in 2021, a team from our country has contested every final, underscoring our dominance in northern hemisphere club rugby. The Stormers famously won the inaugural final against the Bulls in Cape Town, while last year, the Bulls reached the final before falling to the Glasgow Warriors. Now, either Jake White’s Bulls or the resurgent Sharks will earn a shot at silverware.
Bulls Roar Back in Pretoria
The Bulls overcame a sluggish start to overpower Edinburgh 42–33 in a pulsating quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld. In a match that produced 11 tries, the home side initially struggled, finding themselves trailing 21–8 within 20 minutes. However, they regrouped effectively, led by standout performances from Canan Moodie, Keagan Johannes, and Ruan Nortje.
Cameron Hanekom set the tone with a bulldozing early try, while David Kriel and Harold Vorster kept the scoreboard ticking before half-time. The Bulls surged ahead with three quick tries after the break, taking full advantage of an Edinburgh yellow card and showcasing their attacking depth and tactical control.
Captain Ruan Nortje praised his team’s fightback: “We made things difficult for ourselves early on, but credit to the guys for sticking to the plan. Hosting a semi-final in Pretoria is a massive boost.”
Sharks Win Shootout Classic in Durban
Earlier on Saturday, Kings Park was the scene of an unforgettable quarter-final as the Sharks edged defending champions Munster in a penalty shootout, the first of its kind in URC history. With the match deadlocked 24–24 after extra time, it came down to the nerve of the kickers. Young scrumhalf Bradley Davids held his composure to slot the decisive kick and send the Durban side into their first-ever URC semi-final.
The Sharks, who finished 14th last season, have enjoyed a meteoric rise. Despite dominating territory and possession, they trailed 7–0 at the break. Second-half tries from Ethan Hooker, Aphelele Fassi, and Fez Mbatha swung the momentum, but a late Conor Murray penalty forced extra time. After a tense additional 20 minutes, the match was settled from the tee, with the Sharks holding their nerve under immense pressure.
“It’s the kind of moment you dream of,” said Davids. “To do it at home in front of our fans makes it even more special.”
Stormers Exit, But SA Still in Control
While the Bulls and Sharks advanced, the Stormers fell flat in Glasgow, crashing out with a 36–18 defeat. Early disruptions and costly errors handed the Warriors the advantage, as the Capetonians missed over 20% of their tackles and struggled to find rhythm.
Two tries from Seabelo Senatla were not enough to salvage the Stormers’ hopes, and coach John Dobson lamented his team’s lack of precision: “We were our own worst enemy — far too many mistakes in key areas.”
Grand Final Spot Guaranteed for SA
With the Bulls and Sharks now meeting in Pretoria, South Africa is guaranteed representation in the URC final once again. The winner will face either Leinster or Glasgow Warriors, who meet in Dublin earlier on Saturday. Should the Irish giants fall, the final could return to our shores — either Loftus Versfeld or Kings Park.
Among the remaining sides, only Glasgow have previously lifted the URC trophy. Leinster, surprisingly, are still chasing their first final in this era despite their pedigree. For the Bulls, this is a golden opportunity to banish previous final disappointments. For the Sharks, it’s a chance to make history.
Either way, fans across the country can look forward to another chapter in South Africa’s growing legacy in the URC.
Also read: SA URC Player of the Season Nominees Revealed: 17 Players from All Franchises in the Running
