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It’s not quite the regular season match fans had hoped for, but USA Rugby on Tuesday confirmed that they will be hosting a pre-season Super Rugby tilt between the Bulls and Stormers at the StuhHub Center in Los Angeles on February 3. The match will be part of a double-header dubbed ‘International Rugby Saturday’ that will also see the US Eagles play the Argentina XV in the first round of the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship. Kickoff is set for 3pm and 5pm respectively.
The Bulls and Stormers are both South African franchises with long histories. Based in Pretoria, the Bulls are three-time Super Rugby champions though they struggled in 2017, finishing 15th out of 18 at season’s end. Despite their form they feature a number of high-profile internationals in the side including former Springbok skipper Adriaan Strauss, second row Lood de Jager, flyhalf Handré Pollard, and versatile back Jesse Kriel. Most notably, however, their new Head Coach is John Mitchell, who led the Eagles to their first ever Americas 1 World Cup Qualification victory in June before departing the side.
The Stormers have never earned a Super Rugby title and have reached the final only once, but enjoyed a successful 2017 season with a 3rd overall finish. They reached the Quarter Finals but were defeated by New Zealand side the Chiefs. The Stormers come from Cape Town and their provincial side, Western Province, is one of the most recognizable domestic teams in world rugby, winning the Currie Cup for a record 34th time (4 shared) in 2017. Among their top players are imposing Springbok second rows Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, flanker Siya Kolisi, and HSBC Sevens Series star Seabelo Senatla.
In opening the 2018 ARC against the Argentina XV the Eagles will face their most difficult foe first in a match that will feature the only two sides to have won the competition. Argentina were victorious in the inaugural 2016 tournament will the USA were crowned champions in 2017. Their head-to-head meetings have thus far ended in unique circumstances with both games finishing in a draw, 35-all in the opening round of 2016 and a thrilling 27-all finish in the final round of last season.
Pre-sale for tickets will begin on November 16 and open to the general public on November 20.
