From his relentless work rate in the engine room to his calm leadership as captain, few players have embodied the values of the Vodacom Bulls quite like Ruan Nortjé.
The Springbok lock has given everything since making his debut in 2018 and on Friday night, he has the opportunity to write the perfect final chapter to his Bulls career.
The 27-year-old will lead the Bulls into the Vodacom URC final against Leinster at Croke Park, before departing for Japan later this year.
The Bull stalwart has endured the heartbreak of three URC final defeats, having featured in the losses to the Stormers in 2022, Glasgow Warriors in 2024 and Leinster in 2025.
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A victory in Dublin would secure the Bulls’ first URC title and provide a fitting farewell for one of the Bulls’ modern-day greats, who came up through the academy ranks.
Nortjé marked his 150th cap for the Pretoria-based side in the quarter-final win against Munster at Loftus.
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While Bulls stars such as Handré Pollard, Willie le Roux and Kurt-Lee Arendse attract much of the attention, Nortjé’s influence is felt in the hard yards – the tackles, carries, lineout work and leadership that underpin the team’s success.
The Bulls go into Friday night’s URC final believing this could finally be their year, and they need look no further than their captain for inspiration.
WIN tickets to 2026 URC Grand Final!
The Vodacom Bulls seek redemption on Grand Final Friday!
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— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) June 10, 2026
Photo: Vodacom Bulls
The post Friday Night Lights: The captain who’s given everything appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
From his relentless work rate in the engine room to his calm leadership as captain, few players have embodied the values of the Vodacom Bulls quite like Ruan Nortjé.
The post Friday Night Lights: The captain who’s given everything appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
