The Bulls v Stormers is South African rugby’s biggest derby. The clash is north v south and historically it has never gotten bigger in any South African domestic or international provincial or club competition, as will be the case in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship match at Loftus, Pretoria.

The most recent match-up played out in front of 52 000 fans at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium and the Stormers needed a 78th minute try to win the URC league fixture 13-8.

STORMERS EDGE BULLS 13-8

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Bulls v Stormers: The Complete Record of South Africa’s North–South Rugby Rivalry

Few rivalries in world rugby stretch across three centuries of competition and identity.

The battle between the Bulls and Stormers is the modern face of a rivalry that began long before professionalism when Northern Transvaal and Western Province first met in 1891.

From Currie Cup wars at Newlands and Loftus Versfeld to modern URC derby clashes, the North–South rivalry remains one of the defining fixtures in South African rugby.

Today the Stormers brand represents Western Province professionally, while the Bulls remain the professional flagship of the old Northern Transvaal union.

This is the complete statistical breakdown of Bulls v Stormers and the historic Western Province rivalry that created it.

Bulls v Stormers Head-to-Head Record

The Stormers and Bulls first met in Super Rugby in 1998, marking the professional chapter of the rivalry.

Bulls vs Stormers Record (1998–2025)

The Bulls dominated much of the early professional era, particularly during the Heyneke Meyer and Frans Ludeke years, when Pretoria became the powerhouse of Super Rugby.

The Stormers have been more competitive in the URC era, winning seven successive matches with John Dobson as coach.

Bulls v Western Province: The Rivalry Before Professional Rugby

Before the creation of the Stormers franchise, the rivalry existed as Western Province v Northern Transvaal in the Currie Cup.

These matches built the mythology of North vs South rugby.

Western Province vs Northern Transvaal Record (1891–1996)

Northern Transvaal held the edge through much of the 1970s, while Western Province dominated the 1980s with their legendary Currie Cup streak.

Bulls v Western Province Record (1997–Present)

After professionalism and the renaming of Northern Transvaal to the Blue Bulls, the rivalry tightened.

Bulls vs Western Province

Few provincial rivalries in rugby have remained so evenly balanced across decades.

The North vs South Rivalry in Numbers

Combining all eras Northern Transvaal, the Bulls, Western Province and the Stormers the rivalry stretches back more than 130 years.

Combined Rivalry Record

Pretoria’s teams hold a slight historical advantage, though the rivalry has repeatedly swung between dominance in the north and the south.

STORMERS BEAT BULLS FOR URC TITLE 

Bulls v Stormers Centurions

Every Player With 100+ Club Caps

The Bulls v Stormers rivalry is one of the defining fixtures in South African rugby.

Across the Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship eras, only a small group of players have reached the milestone of 100 franchise appearances for either side.

Below is the verified list of Stormers and Bulls centurions, based on franchise records and official announcements.

Stormers Centurions

(100+ Stormers caps)

Key Stormers appearance records

• Most Stormers caps: Brok Harris

• First Stormers centurion: Andries Bekker

• Most Stormers centurions by position: Prop (Harris, Malherbe, Kitshoff, Fouché)

Bulls Centurions

(100+ Bulls franchise caps)

Key Bulls appearance records

• Most Bulls franchise caps: Victor Matfield

• Most Bulls centurions by position: Lock

• First Bulls centurion of the professional era: Bakkies Botha

What It Means To Be A Franchise Centurion

Reaching 100 appearances for a South African franchise is a rare milestone.

Several factors limit player totals:

• Springbok duty removes players for long periods

• Overseas contracts reduce long-term continuity

• Squad rotation in Super Rugby and the URC

This makes the Stormers and Bulls centurions clubs among the most exclusive groups in South African professional rugby.

The Rivalry Enters a New Era

With Stormers now replacing Western Province in the Currie Cup from 2026, the professional identity of the rivalry is clearer than ever.

What began as Western Province v Northern Transvaal has evolved into the modern Bulls v Stormers derby but the essence remains unchanged.

Cape Town versus Pretoria.

Newlands tradition versus Loftus power is now Cape Town buzz at the youthful DHL Stadium versus the endearing beauty of the old lady Loftus.

North versus South.

And in South African rugby, no internal showdown carries the same history or significance as Bulls v Stormers.

FAQ

What is the Bulls v Stormers record?
The Bulls lead the Stormers 27 wins to 17 since 1998.

When did Western Province first play Northern Transvaal?
The first recorded meeting was in 1891.