Bulls suffer injury setbacks ahead of Champions Cup opener

The Bulls will be without key players, including Springbok centre Jan Serfontein, for their Champions Cup opener against defending champions Bordeaux at Loftus Versfeld.

Head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed the developments following the team’s 43-33 defeat to the Lions in the United Rugby Championship.

Serfontein left the field at halftime after picking up a MCL injury and will not feature this weekend. His replacement, Junior Springbok Cheswill Jooste, made a strong impact.

Ackermann said the length of Serfontein’s recovery remains uncertain.

Hooker Juann Else lasted just 12 minutes off the bench before failing an HIA. He now enters World Rugby’s mandatory 12-day return-to-play protocol. The Bulls medical team is awaiting further test results to determine his availability beyond the opening round.

The Bulls received one positive update: utility back David Kriel has been cleared after suffering a minor eye injury during the Lions match. Ackermann confirmed that Kriel should be fit to play against Bordeaux.

“David [Kriel], we believe, will be fine. He suffered a minor eye injury, but it doesn’t seem too serious.

“Jan [Serfontein] is definitely out. He suffered an MCL [knee] injury. We don’t know how long he’ll be out for.

“Juann’s [Else] time on the sideline depends on the outcome of his concussion test.

“Obviously, he failed his HIA. That’s why he didn’t return to the field, but more tests are being done, and we’ll have to wait and see what the outcome is on that.”