Stormers and Bulls to meet in Paarl pre-season fixture on 11 September

The Stormers and Bulls will meet on 11 September in a pre-season fixture at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl. The Bulls will then begin their 2026-27 United Rugby Championship campaign away to Zebre in Parma on 26 September.

Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed the fixture after his team’s 50-19 defeat by the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld. That match gave the Pretoria side an early test before the new season, while the meeting with the Stormers is scheduled as their only warm-up game before the URC begins.

The fixture will be played at the venue used for the local schools’ derby in Paarl. It gives both South African teams an opportunity to assess their preparation before the Bulls travel to Italy for their opening league match.

Ackermann indicated that the Bulls will have a short break before returning to work ahead of the Stormers game. The team will then have a final period to sharpen its preparations before beginning the URC campaign, with conditioning identified as a key focus.

The coaching staff also viewed the All Blacks match as useful preparation despite the heavy defeat. The contest provided the Bulls’ players with a clear indication of the level required against elite opposition and highlighted areas for improvement before the Stormers fixture.

After facing Zebre, the Bulls are scheduled to continue their European trip against Munster. The Paarl encounter therefore stands as the Pretoria side’s main opportunity to test its work before the competitive schedule starts.