CEO Edgar Rathbone wants the Vodacom Bulls “to put up a big performance” in the Champions Cup this season.

While much of the focus has been on whether new coach Johan Ackermann can deliver long-awaited Vodacom URC silverware after three final defeats in four years, Rathbone stressed that Europe’s top club competition is just as important.

The Bulls failed to reach the round of 16 last season after former coach Jake White prioritised the URC, but that could change under Ackermann.

“Every competition we enter, we want to win it,” Rathbone told News24. “There are no guarantees, but we don’t enter a competition not to win it.

“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 begin their 2025-26 Champions Cup campaign against European champions Bordeaux Bègles at Loftus on 6 December, before travelling to Franklin’s Gardens to face last season’s runners-up the Northampton Saints on 14 December.

On 10 January, the Bulls host the Bristol Bears, and complete their pool stage with a fixture against Pau in France on 16 January.

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Ackermann has already underlined his intent to treat the competition with the respect it deserves.

“In my own mind I’ve started to think about it, but I haven’t finalised anything with the staff yet,” he said at his first press conference in July. “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].

“Obviously we have to factor in things like Bok rest protocols and injuries, but we want to give ourselves a real chance in that competition.”

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