Bulls dealt Canan Moodie blow ahead of Champions Cup opener

Moodie has been ruled out under head injury assessment (HIA) protocols after colliding with Lions loose forward Siba Mahashe during the Bulls' emphatic 57-15 United Rugby Championship victory in Pretoria last weekend.

The 23-year-old had already scored a try and troubled the Lions' defence with several line breaks before leaving the field early in the second half.

His absence is a setback for the Pretoria side as they begin their European campaign, with fellow winger Cheswill Jooste also struggling with illness.

Ackermann could turn to Stravino Jacobs, Sebastian de Klerk or Dylan Maart to fill the gap out wide, with the Bulls set to announce their team on Thursday.

There is some positive news for the coach, however, as scrumhalf Embrose Papier has returned to training after a lengthy spell out with an ankle injury. Hooker Akker van der Merwe remains unavailable as he continues to recover from a calf problem.

The Bulls will be aiming for a strong start to their Champions Cup campaign after reaching the knockout stages last season, when their run ended with a last-16 defeat to Glasgow Warriors.

Their best performance in the competition came in 2023/24, when they reached the quarterfinals before losing 59-22 to Northampton Saints.

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