Edgar Rathbone, the big boss of the Vodacom Bulls, has thrown down the gauntlet: this season, it's go big or go home in the Champions Cup. Despite the buzz around new coach Johan Ackermann’s mission to snag the elusive Vodacom URC title after a series of near-misses, Rathbone is zooming in on Europe’s premier club competition with eagle eyes.
After a disappointing exit before the sweet 16 last year—thanks to former coach Jake White's all-in bet on the URC—Rathbone and Co. are looking to shake things up. "Every competition we enter, we want to win it," Rathbone declared, setting the tone for the upcoming season.
"I think it’s also time we put up a big performance in the Champions Cup. We have tough group fixtures, but it’ll be good to see this team doing well and have a chance to go a bit further in this competition."
The Bulls are starting their Champions Cup journey with a bang, hosting the reigning champs, Bordeaux Bègles, at Loftus on December 6, followed by a face-off with last year’s runners-up, the Northampton Saints, on their turf at Franklin’s Gardens on December 14. January will see the Bulls clash with the Bristol Bears back on home soil and then wrap up the pool stage with a trip to France to battle Pau on January 16.
Ackermann is not taking his foot off the pedal either. At his inaugural press conference back in July, he hinted at a full-throttle approach. "In my own mind I’ve started to think about it, but I haven’t finalized anything with the staff yet," he mused, already strategizing about the lineup.
"If you ask me now – and maybe it’s too early to say – we’ll be as strong as we can for those games, especially the first one [against Bordeaux Bègles]."
He also noted the need to juggle player availability, considering national team rest requirements and injuries, but reaffirmed, "we want to give ourselves a real chance in that competition."
The Bulls’ campaign promises a mix of hope, strategy, and the thrill of the European challenge. With Rathbone and Ackermann at the helm, the team's sights are set high—not just to compete, but to conquer. As the Champions Cup looms, it’s clear the Bulls are not just participating—they’re charging.
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Edgar Rathbone, the big boss of the Vodacom Bulls, has thrown down the gauntlet: this season, it's go big or go home in the Champions Cup. Despite the buzz around new coach Johan Ackermann’s mission to snag the elusive Vodacom URC title after a series of near-misses, Rathbone is zooming in on Europe’s premier club competition with eagle eyes.
After a disappointing exit before the sweet 16 last year—thanks to former coach Jake White's all-in bet on the URC—Rathbone and Co. are looking to shake things up. "Every competition we enter, we want to win it," Rathbone declared, setting the tone for the upcoming season.
"I think it’s also time we put up a big performance in the Champions Cup. We have tough group fixtures, but it’ll be good to see this team doing well and have a chance to go a bit further in this competition."
The Bulls are starting their Champions Cup journey with a bang, hosting the reigning champs, Bordeaux Bègles, at Loftus on December 6, followed by a face-off with last year’s runners-up, the Northampton Saints, on their turf at Franklin’s Gardens on December 14. January will see the Bulls clash with the Bristol Bears back on home soil and then wrap up the pool stage with a trip to France to battle Pau on January 16.
Ackermann is not taking his foot off the pedal either. At his inaugural press conference back in July, he hinted at a full-throttle approach. "In my own mind I’ve started to think about it, but I haven’t finalized anything with the staff yet," he mused, already strategizing about the lineup.
"If you ask me now – and maybe it’s too early to say – we’ll be as strong as we can for those games, especially the first one [against Bordeaux Bègles]."
He also noted the need to juggle player availability, considering national team rest requirements and injuries, but reaffirmed, "we want to give ourselves a real chance in that competition."The Bulls’ campaign promises a mix of hope, strategy, and the thrill of the European challenge. With Rathbone and Ackermann at the helm, the team's sights are set high—not just to compete, but to conquer. As the Champions Cup looms, it’s clear the Bulls are not just participating—they’re charging.