Bulls boss salutes SA’s best player

Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has praised Embrose Papier after the scrumhalf was named South Africa’s URC Player of the Season.

Papier received the award following a superb campaign in which he emerged as one of the competition’s standout performers and played a key role in guiding the Bulls to the URC semi-finals.

The 29-year-old was selected by a voting panel consisting of the Springbok coaching staff, South Africa’s four URC head coaches and selected TV commentators. ipl-cricket.in

MORE: Players pick Sacha as URC’s best

Ackermann said the accolade was richly deserved after Papier’s consistency throughout the season.

“We’re proud of Embrose,” said Ackermann. “He’s showed why he got the award for just consistently playing well over the season.

“As a team, we had some ups and downs, but he played consistently well and as the season progressed, he just got better and better.”

Papier’s form has reignited his Springbok ambitions ahead of the international season.

The Bulls scrumhalf scored nine tries during the regular season before adding another two in his side’s quarter-final victory against Munster. He also registered five assists, 15 clean breaks and beat 25 defenders.

2025/26 South African VURC Player of the season

Congratulations @Vodacom #urc | @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/0ldt5ptFSw

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) June 4, 2026

His performances earned him a call-up to the recent Springbok alignment camp and have strengthened his case for a return to the national setup.

Ackermann was quick to acknowledge the quality of players competing across South Africa’s four URC clubs, but believes Papier stood out over the course of the campaign.

“I think it’s difficult for any player to do that without the team, so we as a team are obviously proud of Embrose and that he got the award,” he said. “But there are so many good players in South Africa and it could’ve gone to anyone.

“For us this season, he was just simply outstanding.”

ACKERS: URC semis to bring Test intensity

Photo: Kian Abdullah/Gallo Images

The post Bulls boss salutes SA’s best player appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

La Fécafoot multiplie les conventions, mais les réalités du football local restent inchangées. Lesjoueurs sont sans soins, les clubs sans moyens, les championnats se jouent là où on ne paie pas les terrains. Le partenariat annoncé avec le Groupe Hospitalier turc Memorial soulève plus de questions qu’il n’apporte de réponses, surtout face à l’initiative beaucoup

L’article Fécafoot-Memorial : une convention de plus, mais qui en bénéficie au juste ? est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.

C’est parti pour la nouvelle saison sportive dans le département du Mfoundi. Le président de la Fédération camerounaise de football (Fécafoot), Samuel Eto'o Fils, a donné le coup d'envoi du match d’ouverture ce soir. C’était au stade annexe 1 de l’omnisports. Best Talent Sport Academy affrontait Amis Glory devant un public des grands jours. Un

L’article D3 Mfoundi : Best Talent débute en fanfare face à Amis Glory Fc est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.

The Stormers will face a stern test as they prepare to face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, a daunting assignment against a team that is desperate to defend their URC title following their defeat to Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final just two weeks ago.

The Capetonians secured their semi-final berth with a gritty 44-21 victory over Cardiff at the DHL Stadium last weekend, but coach John Dobson and his team will be under no illusions about the step up in class they face in Dublin.

Their form in recent weeks has been inconsistent, winning only two of their last five matches, and the pressure will be on the squad to deliver a complete performance to come out on top.

Adding to the challenge, the Stormers will be without Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who suffered an injury in the quarter-final, which is expected to sideline him for an extended period.

There are, however, reasons for optimism in the Cape Town camp, as the Stormers have fared decently on the road this season, and crucially, they can point to a dominant 35-0 victory over Leinster in their opening pool match of the season in Cape Town.

Leinster, however, are expected to be a different proposition on their home turf, but the psychological edge of that earlier result will not be lost on either team.

Kick off is at 18:30.

Stormers URC semi-final live scoring

Leinster v Stormers
Date: Saturday, 6 June
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
SA Time: 18:30
Referee: Hollie Davidson
TV: SuperSport

TEAMS

LEINSTER – 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Bench: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose.

STORMERS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Warrick Gelant.