Springbok flank Jacques Potgieter is set to leave the Bulls for good after requesting a release from his contract.
Sport24
Apparently, the 27-year-old is set to sign a deal with a big club in Great Britain.
His contract at the Bulls was recently extended to 2015, but with exemption to play six months in Japan after the completion of the Super Rugby competition.
He’s still heading there where he’ll represent the Sanix Blues, but won’t return to Pretoria afterwards.
Potgieter played three Tests for the Springboks last year but hasn’t featured for the national team since the disappointing 16-all draw against Argentina in Mendoza last August.
He’s also fallen out of favour this year at the Bulls where Dewald Potgieter and Arno Botha are ahead of him in the pecking order.
“I’m extremely excited for what lies ahead,” he said. “My time at the Bulls was unbelievable and I’m thankful for every coach and team-mate that was part of my life.
“However, I want to get more game time and understand completely that the current crop of loose forwards in the structures work well for the team.”
He apparently received several offers overseas, but decided on a club with a “similar culture to the Bulls”.
He will leave in two weeks’ time to complete the process.
No great loss.
Post subject: Chilliboy goooooooooooooonnnnneeeeeeeee ?Posted: 22 May 2013 12:28 Joined: 31 Jan 2012 10:05Posts: 5422Chilliboy set to leave BullsMay 22 2013 at 11:16amBy Vata NgobeniThe Bulls could bid farewell to yet another Springbok with speculation rife that long-time hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle is on the most wanted list of French club Toulouse.The Bulls could bid farewell to yet another Springbok with speculation rife that long-time hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle is on the most wanted list of French club Toulouse.If, indeed, the multi-million rand offer comes through in the next week or two from France then it is inevitable that Ralepelle will join a growing list of Bulls internationals who have succumbed to the power of the Euro and Japanese Yen.Toulouse boasts some of the best players in the Top 14 with the likes of French internationals Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Nyanga, Maxime Medard, Vincent Clerc, Louis Picamoles, former All Black Luke McAllister, former Wallaby Luke Burgess and Springbok prop Gurthrö Steen-kamp with Gary Botha just having finished his contract with the club.Even more attractive is that Toulouse is regarded as one of the best clubs in Europe having won a record four Heineken Cups and 19 French Championship titles.“This offer is unrefusable. It is too huge for him to say no to,” said a reliable source from France yesterday.Springboks Morné Steyn, Juandré Kruger, Jacques Potgieter and Zane Kirchner have all confirmed their departures later this year with Kruger likely to leave at the end of June when his contract with the Bulls expires.Kruger is going to France along with Steyn while Potgieter will leave at the end of the Super Rugby campaign for Japan with Kirchner also likely to leave at the end of July for his new club in Ireland.There has been talk about Springbok centre Wynand Olivier also leaving the Bulls permanently after enjoying a stint in Japan last year but his alleged deal with French club Stade Francais apparently fell through.A few weeks ago the Bulls had moved to assure their supporters that they were doing everything in their power to keep their top players in Pretoria but in Ralepelle’s case it seems as though the Bulls’ hands are tied because the decision on whether Ralepelle will leave or stay lies with the Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.The fact that Ralepelle did not play for the national team last year even though he was one of the stand out hookers, will contribute hugely to Ralepelle’s departure.Furthermore, Ralepelle was again given the cold shoulder by Meyer last month when Springbok contracts were awarded to Cheetahs hooker Adriaan Strauss and Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis even though Du Plessis has not played rugby this year and Ralepelle has been one of the top hookers in the Super Rugby competition in 2013.Sources close to the story have revealed that Ralepelle’s imminent move could still be halted if the apparent behind-the-scenes talks between Ralepelle’s agent Gerrie Swart and Meyer prove fruitful.Earlier this year Ralepelle had been the target of lucrative offers from a handful of English clubs but he could not consider any of the offers as he failed to meet the requirement because he has not played for the Springboks in the last 18 months with his last appearance having been at the Rugby World Cup in the group match against Samoa.Blue Bulls Company High Performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg was almost certain that Ralepelle would be staying at the Bulls even though he could not confirm that a new deal had been agreed and signed between the player and the union.“It’s finalised already. I’m 99.99percent certain that he is not going abroad,” was all Janse Van Rensburg could say yesterday.Ralepelle and Swart did not answer their phones yesterday after several attempts to get comment from them. – The Starhttp://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/chilli … Zy5lkrm7kM
Must say, when Ian Schwartz handled the Bulls contracting things seemed to be well oiled, but Xander Janse van Rensburg makes me worry.
I understand the budget is only so big and no more… that is what we’re faced with… but more and more invaluable players seem to be signing elsewhere… in a hurry.
Hope Chiliboy stays!
Losing Jacques Potgieter is not such a great loss, hell we’re fielding a strong loosie combo on the weekend and Arno Botha only gets to be on the bench, but we all know how easily loosies get injured in this modern game and one feels that one needs at least 2 quality loosies in every one of the 3 loosie positions!
CJ should have stayed!!!!
Jacques Potgieter aka Loop-en-Val is no big loss
Also hope Chilli chocolates stay put
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