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Former Springbok Ackermann succeeds White as Bulls coach / Photo: © AFP/File
Former Springbok Ackermann succeeds White as Bulls coach
Former South Africa lock Johan Ackermann has been appointed head coach of the Bulls, with his mission to turn serial runners-up into title winners, an official confirmed on Thursday.
The Pretoria outfit have reached three of the four United Rugby Championship (URC) finals since South African sides were admitted to a competition including teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.
Bulls lost finals to fellow South Africans the Stormers in 2022, Glasgow Warriors in 2024 and Leinster this year.
Soon after the heavy defeat by Leinster in Dublin last month, 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White quit as Bulls boss, saying the "time had come for a new voice".
Ackermann, 55, formerly coached the Johannesburg-based Lions for four seasons, Gloucester in England and the Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan before returning to South Africa last year.
He is currently in Italy, assisting South Africa in the world under-20 championship, where they have reached the final against New Zealand.
"The moment I received the call I got goose bumps," said Ackermann, who was capped 13 times by the Springboks over 12 seasons from 1996.
"It still feels too good to be true. I am like someone going to school for the first time. I am so excited. It is a privilege and an honour."
The Bulls launch their 2025/26 URC campaign against Welsh visitors the Ospreys on September 27, then host Leinster seven days later.
J.L. de Oliveira--JDB
