Vodacom Bulls head coach, Pote Human, has selected his 40 man squad that will do duty in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby.

The squad is the perfect blend of experience and youth with Human opting for 22 forwards and 18 backs with less than two weeks to go until their opening clash against the Cell C Sharks in Durban.

Burger Odendaal will captain the team while marshalling the inside channel and will have international experience to call on from Loftus favourite Morné Steyn returning to Pretoria after several seasons in France.

The #BullsFamily will also get to enjoy the services of Tongan international, Nafi Tuitavake, as the 18 Test centre returns to Vodacom Super Rugby after plying his trade in England.

The backs have several new youthful players that have proved their worth for other teams but now have the opportunity to do the same for the Vodacom Bulls at senior levels, guys such as Chris Smith and Richard Kriel will be eagerly waiting in the wings.

New faces amongst the forwards include former Bull and Springbok lock, Juandré Kruger; Scottish capped Josh Strauss and Namibian hooker Louis van der Westhuizen who all bolster a forward pack that is brimming with players who want to leave their mark on the tournament including Muller Uys, Jeandré Rudolph and Abongile Nonkontwana.

Vodacom Bulls 2020 squad

Forwards: Simphiwe Matanzima, Gerhard Steenekamp, Lizo Gqoboka, Corniel Els, Jaco Visagie, Muller Uys, Johan Grobbelaar, Louis van der Westhuizen, Trevor Nyakane, Wiehahn Herbst, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Andries Ferreira, Ryno Pieterse, Ian Groenewald, Juandré Kruger, Ruan Nortje, Tim Agaba, Marco van Staden, Jeandré Rudolph, Ruan Steenkamp, Abongile Nonkontwana, Wian Vosloo, Josh Strauss.

Backs: Ivan van Zyl, Embrose Papier, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Morné Steyn, Chris Smith, Manie Libbok, Rosko Specman, Divan Rossouw, Burger Odendaal, Dylan Sage, Franco Naude, Cornal Hendricks, Nafi Tuitavake, Marnus Potgieter, Johnny Kotze, Jade Stighling, Warrick Gelant, Richard Kriel.

Vodacom Bulls Management 2020

Head coach: Pote Human

Backs: Chris Rossouw

Defence: Pine Pienaar

Scrums: Daan Human

Technical analyst: John William Meyer

Team manager: Elias Bennett

Team doctor: Dr Herman Rossouw

Physiotherapists: Lance Lemmetjies, Pieter du Plessis

Strength and Conditioning: Jacus Coetzee

Team psychologist: Dr Jannie Botha

Team logistics: Simon Dyidi