Hanekom returns to Bulls squad as Ackermann rotates pack

Cameron Hanekom is back.

After almost a year on the sidelines, the Vodacom Bulls star will finally take the first steps of his comeback on Friday night when the side face Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match.

Hanekom tore his hamstring badly back in May 2025, during the Bulls win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the URC semifinals last season and has struggled to get back since. The nature of the tear, said to be one of the worst that a rugby player can suffer, has meant that Hanekom has taken a long time to get back, even though his return is eagerly anticipated.

His name on the reserves sheet obviously dominated the talk around the side, which saw several other changes due to injury and reshuffling as the Bulls look to get their campaign back on track after the loss to the DHL Stormers last weekend.

“It’s great news to have Cameron back,” coach Johan Ackermann said at the press conference announcing the team on Thursday.

“It was a tough time for him to see the boys play while he can’t play. So he is very excited to get back onto the field, and we are really confident. We did a lot of things now to prepare him and I’m sure he is fully fit. He has done all the off-field stuff like testing etc that we could do to make sure he is ready.

“There is always a bit of nerves when you come back from injury. How sharp are you, how good can you play but ultimately any player who has played at the high level before, has got the talent. He must just enjoy himself. That will be the main message, go out and express yourself, don’t be afraid of the level you play or the mistakes you make.

YOUR team to face Cardiff tomorrow night 😍

🎟️ https://t.co/9eZxO6xGZq @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/03kMWjQava
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 19, 2026

Ackermann also said that Hanekom’s eagerness and determination to get back on the field had counted against his earlier return.

“I think it cost him a little bit. He sometimes did a bit more than he was supposed to do and it didn’t help his rehab, to be fair. But it is a good lesson for him. If any time in the future he has an injury, to look after himself and trust the medical advice.

“But the one thing I can say as a player, and I’ve only worked with him the last few weeks on the field, this will be the first live game that I see him play as a coach. The one thing I know, he was here every morning at 4:30/5am working on his conditioning. He is dedicated, and it is great to see a player like that. Hopefully he will bear the fruits of his return.”

In other team news, Ackermann has replaced the concussed Harold Vorster with Stedman Gans at inside centre, while Cheswill Jooste comes in for the injured Sebastian de Klerk on the wing.

Up front, Wilco Louw is unavailable due to personal reasons, so Francois Klopper is at tighthead, and Cobus Wiese swaps with Ruan Vermaak at lock. Marco van Staden covers hooker off the bench alongside Jan-Hendrik Wessels while the rest of the side is unchanged.

“We felt it is a short turnaround and if we can freshen up and bring in some new energy, we would do that. If you look at the locks, Ruan Vermaak has played a lot of rugby and Cobus came off the bench. Wilco had some things personally to look after. We felt we wanted to give Francois Kloppers and Khutha Mchunu some chance to show what they can do.

“Stedman Gans was also unlucky after the Lions game, he and Harold were very good together and came back and kept on training well. We felt he deserves to play in that position.”

Cardiff are fifth, while the Bulls are eighth and while Ackermann has acknowledged the Stormers’ loss probably ended their hopes of a top four space, a victory is non-negotiable if they want to finish as high as possible.

VODACOM BULLS v CARDIFF

1. Gerhard Steenekamp

2. Johan Grobbelaar

3. Francois Klopper

4. Cobus Wiese

5. Ruan Nortje

6. Marcell Coetzee (Captain)

7. Elrigh Louw

8. Nizaam Carr

9. Embrose Papier

10. Handre Pollard

11. Kurt-Lee Arendse