Jeandré Rudolph leads Bulls attack as Scarlets suffer defeat at Loftus Versfeld

Singer Gustavo Lima, along with two partners, participated in a deal worth 11.9 million reais for 75% of the rights to two elite Nelore cattle. This transaction took place during an auction event.

The lot was sold for 11,947,500 reais, with payment to be made in 30 installments of 398,250 reais each. In addition to the singer, the purchasing group includes Nelore Candeias and Nelore IMS. The individual amounts invested by each buyer were not disclosed.

Both animals are donor animals, meaning they are used in breeding programs to multiply valuable genetic characteristics in livestock farming. One of the methods used is in vitro fertilization (IVF), which allows embryos to be obtained from the female's eggs and semen from a selected reproducer.

The deal involves acquiring 75% of the rights to both cows, meaning the buyers become co-owners of the animals according to the established shares. Rights related to breeding and commercialization depend on the terms stipulated in the contract.

The g1 editorial team attempted to find out how much each buyer paid individually and how the shares were divided, but could not confirm this information. It was also not possible to determine who owns the remaining 25% of the animals.

History with million-dollar animals

In May 2026, Gustavo Lima sold a horse from his estate for over 1.1 million reais at an event held in Nazaré, western Goiás. At that time, the singer announced that the proceeds would be fully donated to the Goiás State Oncology Complex (Cora).

This horse was of the Friesian breed and was one year and eight months old at the time of the auction. In a video published on social media, Gustavo Lima stated that the income would go to the hospital where he had been involved from its founding until the handover.

In August 2025, the singer also sold 50% of the ownership of the Oregon horse, a Friesian breed, to the Latin singer for 5 million reais. This deal concerned half the ownership right of the animal.

These business operations demonstrate Gustavo Lima's activity in the high-value animal market, which includes horses and cattle selected for breeding.

After Sharks and Lions showed mixed results away from home on Friday evening, Bulls and Stormers have good chances to secure wins with bonus points on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulls match starts at 13:45, and the Stormers match is at 16:00. The Bulls have reached a new level this season and are among the early title contenders. In their last two games at Loftus Versfeld stadium, they scored 50 points against Lions and Stade Francais, and Ulster could face a similar fate on Saturday.

The Pretoria team clearly understands that home matches represent a crucial opportunity to accumulate points in the race for a high position in the league table. The altitude and 30-degree heat at Loftus stadium traditionally create serious difficulties for visiting teams, especially those coming from the northern hemisphere.

Under the guidance of Johan Ackermann, the Bulls intend to implement their physical game, establish dominance in scrums, and utilize their strong runners to exert constant pressure on Ulster.

However, Ulster possesses a quality that could make this contest competitive. Their ability to retain possession and maintain a high tempo could challenge the Bulls, especially if the visitors manage to avoid territorial battles. Since both teams possess significant power in the front line, the timing in the scrum and possession management will be decisive.

Nevertheless, the Bulls have too much attacking power on the wings, and the author predicts a 20-point victory.

Stormers will aim to maintain their undefeated start to the season in Cape Town by hosting Scarlets. Stormers have impressive statistics against the Welsh region, including a convincing 34-0 away win last season.

Coach John Dobson has assembled a powerful squad combining experienced players with rising talents, reflecting the depth of quality available to the Cape Town team. One key player in the squad is young midfielder Hashim Pead, who starts after two substitute appearances. The performance of the former Lions player will be closely monitored as he takes the next step in his development.

Stormers' ability to play wide, fast, and ambitiously makes them particularly dangerous at DHL Stadium, but Scarlets have shown encouraging form in the early weeks of the campaign. The visitors will require disciplined defense and the ability to exploit their attacking opportunities. Allowing Stormers quick possession and space to exploit could come at a high cost.

Stormers will aim to capitalize on this home match, striving to maintain pressure on the Championship leaders. This match looks like a confident victory for the Cape Town captains by a margin of 25 points.

The Bulls team is approaching a potential major transfer as Quagg Smith, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner and South African national player, leaves the Japanese club Shizuoka Blue Revs. Simultaneously, Reinhardt Ludwig from Pretoria has signed an agreement with the Loftus Versfeld club until 2030.

Smith's departure from Japan was officially confirmed on Tuesday, strengthening speculation about the 33-year-old forward's possible return to South Africa and reunion with Bulls coach Johan Ackermann. Ackermann previously coached Smith at the Lions before his move to Japan in 2018.

Ackermann has already confirmed the Bulls' interest in Smith's return to South Africa, and reaching an agreement to terminate his contract is a crucial step toward realizing this plan. During his eight years in Japan, Smith achieved great success, playing as captain of the Blue Revs and making the league season team five times.

In 2023, his teammates voted him as the Player of the Season in the Japan Rugby League One. He played 81 matches for the club, which highly valued his contribution and leadership qualities. The club noted: 'Since joining Yamaha Jubilo in 2018, he has been a key player for the team.'

Smith, who earned 63 caps for the national team, is currently sidelined due to a knee injury and could not participate in the international Springboks season. Rassie Erasmus reported that it is unlikely he will recover in time for the World Cup matches in November.

A move to the Bulls would allow him to be near Ackermann again and add another experienced international player to an already strong forward line. Although Smith's future is not yet certain, the Bulls have secured an important element of their long-term plans by signing Ludwig, one of South Africa's most promising young rugby forwards.

The 24-year-old lock signed an extension that keeps him at Loftus until 2030, underscoring the club's belief in his potential and leadership abilities. Ludwig has been part of the Bulls system since his debut in 2021 and has never played outside Pretoria. Before starting his professional career, he was a prefect at Affies and captain of the school's first XV team, bringing these leadership qualities into professional sport.

He also represented the SA Under-20 team in 2021 and 2022. Standing at 1.99m and weighing 111kg, Ludwig possesses the physical attributes to succeed at the highest level, but it is his development and leadership that have strengthened his position at the Bulls. Ludwig stated: 'I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Bulls for the opportunity to extend my contract. It means a great deal that the coaches and management have shown me trust and belief. I am very excited; they have created an incredible squad, and it is a great honor to be a part of it. I am fully committed to giving my best, working hard, and doing everything possible to contribute to the success of this team and take the Bulls to a new level in the coming seasons.'