Loftus Versfeld Turns Into Sea of Mini Rugby as Bulletjie Day Breaks New Ground

Photo Credit: Charmaine Botes Visser

A record 5,673 young players took to 26 fields, with girls’ matches making their debut in a historic step for Blue Bulls youth rugby.

Pretoria, South Africa (21 June 2026) – The iconic Loftus Versfeld Stadium was bursting with colour and excitement as thousands of young rugby players gathered for the annual Loftus Bulletjie Day.

The event turned out to be one of the biggest editions yet, bringing together 5,673 young Bulletjie rugby players from 82 schools across the Blue Bulls region. Across 26 mini-fields, 537 teams took part, and an impressive 557 matches were played throughout the day in a nonstop celebration of junior rugby.

The age groups included 165 Under-6 teams, 188 Under-7 teams and 184 Under-8 teams, all of whom had the unforgettable experience of playing on the legendary home ground of the Blue Bulls.

For the first time ever, girls’ Bulletjie rugby matches were introduced at Loftus Bulletjie Day. This marked a major milestone for the sport and opened a new door for young girls to showcase their talent on an equal platform.

Thirty girls from different schools took part in this pioneering moment, and the response leading up to the event had already shown strong interest from schools and parents eager to see more girls involved in the game.

According to Esjé Esterhuyse, Chairperson of Blue Bulls Bulletjie Rugby, the idea came from something he had noticed repeatedly on the fields over the years.

He also shared that the strong interest received beforehand proved that there was real demand for girls’ participation, and he expressed hope that this was only the beginning. Plans were already being considered to double participation in the following year and eventually develop a full girls’ programme within the festival.

Despite this historic expansion, the heart of Bulletjie Day remained unchanged. The event once again brought together children from diverse schools and communities, giving them the chance to play, connect, and build friendships through rugby.

At this level, the focus was never on trophies or rankings, but on the values the sport naturally builds. For many children, it was their very first introduction to organised rugby, while for others it marked the start of a longer journey in the sport.