The Western Force scored a major coup the the unveiling of Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp as their latest signing.
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The second row forward add considerable size and experience into the Force forward pack next season.
The two-metre tight forward joins the Western Australian franchsie for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons – having previously represented the Bulls (35 caps), Sharks (five) and Cheetahs (13).
He joins another South African in flyhalf Sias Ebersohn in Perth as the mass exodus from Pretoria continues.
The former Emerging Springbok representative, who joins the Force on a foreign player contract, has six seasons of top-line provincial experience and 53 Super Rugby caps to his name.
The lofty second row forward was a run-on member of the Emerging Springboks side that drew 13-all with British & Irish Lions in Cape Town in 2009.
Steenkamp, whose younger brother De Kock is currently on contract with the Stormers, said he’s looking forward to continuing his Super Rugby career with the Western Force.
“What I like about the Force is that they’re a team that never gives up,” he said.
“In all their games they’re in the game right up until the 80th minute.
“While the bounce of the ball may not have gone for them each time, they’re a team that always plays with passion and they play for each other.
“Mike Foley is a new coach there and I think it’s the beginning of big things that are building there this year and onwards.
“I’ve spoken with him a couple of times, he’s played the game at the highest level and I’m really looking forward to working with him.
“I’ve also spoken to Sias every day on Skype since I started talking with the Force. He and I are good friends; he’s said I’ll really enjoy it over there and that Perth’s a great place.”
The 28-year-old said he still has a lot to offer the Western Force.
“I’m still keen to play Super Rugby and competitive rugby, and I’m at the stage of my career in South Africa with the Bulls that I’m looking for a new challenge,” he said.
“I’ve now got the opportunity to keep playing at a high quality against Test players week in, week out which is why I was keen to join the Force.
“I feel like I can bring a lot of experience. I’ve played almost 60 games for the Bulls and captained the Cheetahs, and I’d like to bring that leadership and experience to the forward pack.
“I’ve worked under Victor Matfield for the past seven or eight years and I feel like I can bring something with lineout calling and contesting. I’m a team man and I’d like to think that I can contribute on and off the field to help the team perform and be a tight unit.”
Foley said Steenkamp will be strong addition to the Western Force pack.
“To complement the existing strengths in our pack, we’re looking to introduce forwards that have excellent skills in the set piece as well as the ability to play with skill and physicality in the open” he said.
“Wilhelm is experienced at Super Rugby level and has forged a career in a culture that prides itself on the strength of its forward play.
“He brings with him a great deal of rugby knowledge, particularly around lineout play, and we’re looking forward to him making a valuable contribution to the side from next season.”
I’m at the stage of
my career in South Africa with the Bulls that
I’m looking for a new challenge,” met ander woorde ek bench net en gaan nou maar force toe in die hoop dat ek speelkans sal kry….ja ou willempie jy moes nooit terug gegaan het bulls toe nie
Eish…. 2 frontline locks for the Bulls departing… just when the Bulls lineouts were once again tops after having to rebuild when Victor, Bakkies & Daniesaurus left at the end of 2011.
Bulls now simply losing too many players, and the player drain MUST stop now!
So wie is dalk nog oppad ?
Ek weet Frik Kirsten wou al laasjaar loop, maar hulle het dit gekeer, ook maar goed so met Marcel se besering. Maar Kirsten se kontrak maak ook klaar einde hierdie jaar, so hy is ook dalk weg.
Werner Kruger ?
Dewald se kontrak is ook op ‘n einde.
Jano dalk ook ?
Beter hierdie jaar die s15 probeer wen, sal ons beste kans wees in die volgende 5 jaar van weer spanbou.
CB is vir goed iets van die verlede, het nou die VC Cup se plek gevat. Die super 15 konferensiebeker wenner van nou af is die nie-amptelike CB wenner. 😉
3 @ ben-die-bul:
Miskien moet Dean Greyling maar loop, maar jinne ons moet vasklou aan Jano en Frik Kirsten!
Ons sal ten minste een groot slot, ‘n haker en ‘n losskakel soos Catrakilis moet koop…. en miskien nog ‘n vleuel / heelagter ook!
Vaste vyf gaan nou dun begin lyk, loosies is nog OK, skakels gaan ‘n probleem wees!
4 @ grootblousmile:Noooooooooooit, the Bulls should keep Greyling china!
Now it’s Dewald Potgieter joining Yamaha Jubilo in Japan.
Ralepelle, Kruger, Steenkamp, Potgieter x2, Vermaak, Steyn, Olivier, Kirchner. Who’s next ?
@ Loosehead:
hopelik spies
@ smallies: we live in hope.
OK the road to success is play for some SA team, get a name at the Bulls and get a major contract.
9 @ superBul:
Fark, it is working for all those mentioned above.
The Blue Bulls have confirmed the departure of scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and flanker Dewald Potgieter to France and Japan respectively.
Potgieter decided not to renew his contract which expires at the end of the current Super Rugby competition and instead will join up with the Yamaha Rugby Club in Japan, whilst Vermaak has asked to be released from his contract to join Toulouse in France.
Vermaak’s request to leave after the completion of the Super Rugby tournament will be discussed by the Bulls, as his contract only expires at the end of October 2013.
According to Xander Janse van Rensburg, the Bulls’ High Performance Manager, Potgieter, who played in 58 Currie Cup, 63 Super Rugby matches and represented South Africa in six Tests and two tour matches, decided to rather go overseas to experience a different lifestyle and culture.
“We had numerous talks with Jano and at one stage it looked successful, but he finally decided to accept the Toulouse offer.
“We are very sad to lose these two players, as they have massive experience and are part of our leadership core, but one cannot compete with the exchange rate at the moment,” Janse van Rensburg said.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have also announced that number of other players have renewed their contracts.
Current Springbok squad members Arno Botha and JJ Engelbrecht have signed on until 2016, while Louis Fouchè, Hencus van Wyk, Jono Ross, Basil Short and Deon Stegmann have signed until 2015, with Handrè Pollard signing on until 2017.
A number of players currently playing for the Junior Springboks in France has also penned extensions.
Flanker Roelof Smit, prop Andrew Beerwinkel and lock Jannes Kirsten signed on till 2015, while current Junior Boks captain, Ruan Steenkamp, signed on till 2014.
Janse van Rensburg says that talks are on-going to sign flanker Jacques du Plessis, who is currently contracted till 2014, for another couple of years.
“It is great to see the vote of confidence in the company and our structures and teams by so many leading players,” Janse van Rensburg said.
Engelbrecht indicated that enjoyment as well as the drive to win tournaments made his decision an easy one.
“I am very happy in Pretoria, where a great work ethic and professional outlook is paramount.
” I feel I have developed so much as a player since joining the Bulls and want to keep on improving, something I know will happen here.
“The coaches here are brilliant and one can really develop as a player and as a person,” Engelbrecht said.
Was ons land die mooiste, lekkerste , veiligste , die plek waar lewe hoog geag word en eindomsreg beskermed, dan sou ek erg tekere gegaan het oor die uitog.
Geen van hierdie spelers gaan ooit geag word as “Springbok Greats” nie. Geen van hulle se boek sal ek eendag koop nie en ek sal ook glad nie moeite doen om na enigeen van hulle se aftree planne te luister nie. Hulle kan maar hul pelle in Frankryk en Japan probeer “entertain”
Die feit is dat hulle dalk nou n paar miljoen gaan score maar waar staan hulle oor 4 of 5 jaar waneer hulle aftree? Ek weet meeste gaan maar weer moet werk, maar ek sal beslis nie hul anders as veraaiers sien nie. Jammer maar ek dink nie lojaliteit is meerdeel van die SA kultuur nie, geld , geld , geld. Ek se kry vir julle maar moet nie eers weer naby die Bokspan kom nie. Beloon manne wat in SA bereid is om saam ons te suffer, daar sal eenvoudig weer nuwe “capable” spelers kom.
Ek het n draw gepick vir die NZ vs France wedstryd, maar ek wens nou die Franse span “implode so dramaties dat hul Nasionale beheerligaam begin wakker word en speler kwotas instel.Komaan All Blacks moer hul 50-0
Rugby spelers in SA kry lekker groot salarisse, as hy n lang loopbaan het kan hy gewoonlik betrokke bly by rugby in SA wat sy salaris vir nog n paar jaar versekker. Hy kan n besigheid begin en ry op sy bekendheid, n groot hupstoot wat nie afgelag moet word nie. Indien hy bietjie van sy vrye tyd gebruik kan hy homself in n goeie post rugby posisie in studeer.
Hierdie huidige generasie sportmanne en vroue gaan die sport oor die wal stoot. Sport gaan nie die aanhoudende geld groeo kan volhou nie. Daar is te veel deesdae. Krieket het klaar met die IPL sy prioriteite verloor.
Ag in kort mense wat helde kon word is besig om hul kanse te verkoop vir die Jen en Euro.
Dink enigiemand anders dat sport gaan vou?
Dat die hle ding nie “sustainable” is nie?
Die taktiek om al die jeug te try opkoop begin backfire as hul die senior spelers verlaagde kontrakte aanbied en dan waai van die jonge manne any case want hul kry nie speelkans nie
Pasop Bulle pluk ‘n lat vir hul eie gat. Soos die ryk laaitjie wat net al die nuwe speelgoed kry en nie meer aandag gee aan die goeie maar oueres nie
Nog manne het gisteraand anngekondig hul waai – Jano Vermaak en Dewald Potgieter
Morne Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Juandre Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jacques Potgieter (“Stand by me” song word nou verkrag jou verraaier), Jano Vermaak, Wilhelm Steenkamp en Dewald Potgieter
Ja, dit gaan seker weer goedgepraat word op n manier, maar bly ‘n bekommernis, die is nie gesonde besigheid nie
P.S. tov van Superbul se post direk hierbo, kan nie anders as om 110% saam met jou te stem nie, wel gesê
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