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Embrose back in three weeks

Keo catches up with Embrose Papier in Lyon, with the Bulls scrumhalf closing in on his return and showing a very different side away from the field.

Keo catches up with Embrose Papier in Lyon, with the Bulls scrumhalf closing in on his return and showing a very different side away from the field. #InvestecChampionsCup
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Papier opens up on eight-year Bok exile and what earned him his alignment camp return

Embrose Papier has detailed the tactical and mental growth that earned him a place in the Springboks' second alignment camp after an eight-year absence from the national setup, with nine tries this season underlining the form that brought him back into Erasmus' thinking.

Planet Rugby
AnalysisSpringboks

Matfield tips Van der Mescht as Bok wildcard — and backs Papier's long-overdue call

Matfield backs Van der Mescht — a resurgent Northampton lock he likens to Snyman — as Erasmus's big 2025 wildcard, while welcoming Papier's call-up and downplaying the absence of veterans like Le Roux as tactical rotation rather than the end.

Planet Rugby · SA Rugby Mag
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Rudolph outshines Springbok-laden Bulls squad again as Nortje leads dominant Benetton demolition

The Bulls beat Benetton 45-19 at Loftus, with Jeandre Rudolph rated nine out of ten after winning four turnovers and making a game-high 12 tackles, again outshining his Springbok teammates. Ruan Nortje was close behind with a dominant all-round display, while Sergeal Peterson scored twice and Embrose Papier impressed on the back of his alignment camp call-up.

Planet Rugby
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Bulls face Benetton without Coetzee and Arendse as Pollard, Le Roux return

The Bulls face Benetton on Saturday without flu-stricken Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with Pollard, Le Roux and Louw returning to a reshuffled side. A bonus-point win could move them into the top four and earn a home quarterfinal. Willie le Roux plays his 400th first-class match; Stravino Jacobs earns his 100th Bulls cap.

SuperSport Rugby
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Rassie makes contact with Papier as Bulls scrum-half closes in on Joost's appearance record

Rassie Erasmus has been in direct contact with Bulls scrum-half Embrose Papier amid the 29-year-old's standout 2025/26 season, with Papier also set to surpass Joost van der Westhuizen as the Bulls' most-capped number nine against Zebre Parma on Saturday.

Planet Rugby