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Johan Ackermann, Bulls head coach
Photo: bullsrugby.co.za

Vodacom Bulls Head Coach

Johan Ackermann

Role
Head Coach
Team
Vodacom Bulls
Nationality
South African
Age
56
In charge since
Jul 2025
Matches
44
Record W-D-L
20-0-24
Win rate
45.5%
Latest news

Record in our match database since Jul 2025

as of
  • 44 Matches
  • 20 Won
  • 0 Drawn
  • 24 Lost
  • 45.5% Win rate

Johan Ackermann has overseen 44 completed Vodacom Bulls matches in our database since July 2025 — 20 won, 0 drawn, 24 lost. That is a 45.5% win rate, with 1305 points scored and 1316 conceded.

Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.

Record by competition

— means no data from the provider
Johan Ackermann, record by competition in our match database
CompetitionPWDLWin %PFPA
All matches · Vodacom Bulls All competitions442002445.5%13051316
United Rugby Championship Sep 2025 – Oct 202624160866.7%766531
Currie Cup Jul 2025 – Aug 202614301121.4%386529
Champions Cup Dec 2025 – Apr 2026510420.0%134206
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Aug 20261001not available1950

Last five matches

  1. Won v Lions 57–15 URC ·
  2. Lost v Munster 22–26 URC ·
  3. Won v Zebre Parma 47–13 URC ·
  4. Lost v Sharks XV 22–53 Currie Cup ·
  5. Lost v Western Province 26–50 Currie Cup ·

Every match in our database

44 matches
United Rugby Championship 24P · 16W · 0D · 8L
  1. Won v Lions 57–15
  2. Lost v Munster 22–26
  3. Won v Zebre Parma 47–13
  4. Lost v Leinster 7–36
  5. Won v Glasgow Warriors 22–21
  6. Won v Munster 45–14
  7. Won v Benetton Rugby 45–19
  8. Won v Zebre Parma 54–19
  9. Won v Scarlets 23–21
  10. Won v Dragons RFC 47–7
  11. Won v Munster 34–31
  12. Won v Cardiff Rugby 40–7
  13. Lost v Stormers 19–32
  14. Won v Sharks 41–12
  15. Won v Lions 52–17
  16. Won v Edinburgh Rugby 19–17
  17. Lost v Stormers 8–13
  18. Lost v Sharks 12–21
  19. Lost v Lions 33–43
  20. Lost v Glasgow Warriors 12–21
  21. Won v Connacht 28–27
  22. Lost v Ulster 7–28
  23. Won v Leinster 39–31
  24. Won v Ospreys 53–40
Currie Cup 14P · 3W · 0D · 11L
  1. Lost v Sharks XV 22–53
  2. Lost v Western Province 26–50
  3. Lost v Cheetahs 52–62
  4. Lost v Pumas 31–33
  5. Lost v Lions 19–42
  6. Lost v Griquas 26–56
  7. Lost v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 10–24
  8. Won v Cheetahs 35–31
  9. Lost v Lions 5–44
  10. Lost v Griquas 21–42
  11. Lost v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 20–28
  12. Lost v Pumas 7–41
  13. Won v Sharks XV 64–0
  14. Won v Western Province 48–23
Champions Cup 5P · 1W · 0D · 4L
  1. Lost v Glasgow Warriors 21–25
  2. Won v Pau 26–24
  3. Lost v Bristol Bears 49–61
  4. Lost v Northampton Saints 5–50
  5. Lost v Bordeaux Bègles 33–46
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 1P · 0W · 0D · 1L
  1. Lost v New Zealand 19–50

Career

  • Vodacom Bulls Head Coach 2025–
  • Gloucester Rugby Head Coach 2017–20
  • Lions Head Coach 2013–17

Honours

  • Currie Cup (Golden Lions) 2015

About Johan Ackermann

Johan Ackermann is the head coach of the Bulls, appointed in July 2025 to replace Jake White, and a former Springbok who became South African rugby’s most celebrated rebuilder.

Johan Ackermann is the head coach of the Vodacom Bulls, appointed in July 2025 with immediate effect after Jake White left by mutual agreement. He took the side to the URC final in his first full season.

Born in June 1970, he was a lock for the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Northampton Saints, Griquas and the Sharks, winning 13 Springbok caps across an unusually long span. In 2007, aged 37, he became the oldest man ever to play for South Africa.

The Lions rebuild

Ackermann began as Lions forwards coach under John Mitchell and took over as head coach in 2013, inheriting a franchise that had been expelled from Super Rugby. What followed made his name: an unbeaten Currie Cup season in 2015 and Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017, with South African Coach of the Year awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

He moved to Gloucester from 2017 to 2020, reaching the 2018 European Challenge Cup final, then coached in Japan with the NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks before returning home.

Style

He is a man-manager and culture-builder first, with a particular reputation for developing young forwards. His sides play at high tempo and offload aggressively, but the platform is always a dominant set piece.

As a player Lock. Blue Bulls, Golden Lions, Northampton Saints, Griquas and the Sharks. 13 Springbok caps between 1996 and 2007, and in 2007 he became the oldest man ever to play for South Africa at 37.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the head coach of Vodacom Bulls?

Johan Ackermann is the head coach of Vodacom Bulls.

When did Johan Ackermann take charge?

Johan Ackermann took over at Vodacom Bulls in July 2025, around 1 years ago.

What is Johan Ackermann's record?

From 44 matches in our database: 20 wins, 0 draws and 24 defeats — a 45.5% win rate.

What nationality is Johan Ackermann?

Johan Ackermann is South African.

How old is Johan Ackermann?

Johan Ackermann is 56 years old.

What has Johan Ackermann won?

Honours include: Currie Cup (Golden Lions) (2015).