Xander Janse van Rensburg
Reports of a mass exodus from the Vodacom Bulls at the end of the season have been rubbished by the franchise.
According to weekend reports a host of Bulls – which include Pierre Spies, Francois Hougaard, Deon Stegmann, Akona Ndungane and JJ Engelbrecht – will head to Japan after the conclusion of the Super Rugby season.
It was billed as the “biggest exodus” since 2013 – when the Bulls lost 20-odd frontline players, including the likes of Juandré Kruger, Wynand Olivier, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Zane Kirchner, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dewald Potgieter and Jacques Potgieter.
However, Xander Janse van Rensburg, the High Performance Manager at the Blue Bulls Company, said that the facts of the reports are far removed from the truth.
“JJ and Grant have Japan clauses in their contracts,” Janse van Rensburg said, adding that the duo will head to Japan after the Super Rugby season, missing the Currie Cup competition, and will then return for Super Rugby 2016.
“For us this has always been a way to retain top players,” the Bulls’ boss said, adding: “They have that financial incentive.
“They are not leaving, they return for Super Rugby next year.”
He also said the “offers” to Pierre Spies and Francois Hougaard are for just 1 Japanese season.
“However, there are many factors that play a role in their decision and nothing is final yet,” he said.
“They are waiting for finality on the Springbok contracts and the World Cup – nothing has been signed or set in stone, it is far from being finalised.”
Janse van Rensburg added that Bulls coach Frans Ludeke and himself have been in discussion with Spies and Hougaard since last year.
In contrast with the report that suggested veteran Bok wing Akona Ndungane is also heading to Japan, the Bulls boss said the 34-year-old is in fact retiring.
“There is no truth in the report that he is heading to Japan,” Janse van Rensburg said.
“Those reports are factually not very accurate,” he said, adding: “Only those 5 senior players’ contracts came up for renewal, the rest have all signed.
“A player like Flip van der Merwe, when he renewed his contract in 2012, already told us he was heading abroad after 2015.
“The only surprise for us was Jacques du Plessis, with the attractive Euro luring him away to Montpellier.”
Janse van Rensburg revealed that they already have a tentative agreement with Du Plessis to return to Pretoria after 20 months with the French club.
“I had a talk with him at the weekend about his contract in 20 months,” he said, adding: The plan is to have him sign the contract to return to Pretoria before he even departs.”
Du Plessis will miss 2 Currie Cup seasons and just 1 Super Rugby season.
rugby365
Man it is a shit thing to consider that Reggie Goodes went to affies and is a loosehead that might run out for the All Blacks one day
Went to Wellington when he was 19.
Ja vetgevreet, jy het hulle seker weer net die helfte van hulle salarisse aangebied soos vir Jano Vermaak en Dewald?
En dan slaap jy op die job
Ek dag julle het gesê Potgieter kom terug Bulle toe?
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Potgieter-coming-home-to-Sharks-20150506
Sharks confirm Potgieter capture
Durban – The Cell C Sharks have announced the signing of Waratahs loose-forward Jacques Potgieter on a two-year contract on Wednesday.
Potgieter is no stranger to the Sharks, having played his junior rugby in Durban.
Over the last few years he has made steady progress up the ranks with his sheer physical presence and explosiveness, which resulted in a Springbok call-up in 2012.
In 2014, he was instrumental in the Waratahs victorious Super Rugby campaign.
“Jacques is a great acquisition for the Sharks,” said Sharks CEO John Smit in a statement when confirming Potgieter’s signing.
“He has been hugely impressive for the Waratahs and will add significant value and depth to our loose trio.
“We look forward to welcoming him back to Durban.”
Potgieter expressed his excitement at the move adding: “I am really looking forward to joining the Sharks.
“This is the place where I played all my junior rugby and where everything started for me.
“I have great memories of my time in Durban and I am keen to contribute to the team’s ambitions in 2016.”
Jacques will officially join the Sharks in early 2016 for the Super Rugby tournament.
@ Victoriabok:
The Sharks are going to lose a few of their big players after the world cup, I am sure Jacques got a very good offer and good for him.
MacroSssss wrote:
I’m sure they will
I’m just tired of the Bulls Broeders selling us shit and expecting us to buy it
They offered our senior players half their salaries while overpaying for underperforming youngsters like Janneman, JJ and Visser
So Jano and Dewald left
They told Potgieter to play in Japan because they couldn’t afford him while promising the fans he’ll return
Xander doesn’t know his ass from his elbow yet he’s contracting players for the Bulls
He’s someone’s relative in the great Bulls-Broeders-Tuks Cabal
Like Frans and Pine
Farking Pie vreters
I wonder how long it will take them to undo all that Jackpot has learnt at the Tahs?
No more passing the ball, he is a loose forward after all, and it’s not their job to pass, but to run into the opposition
nortie wrote:
Two training sessions with Frans would do take care of that passing
I don’t know how long it will take with Golden Gary
Maybe Brendan could teach him how not to tackle over Skype from Saracens?
8 @ Victoriabok:
Never knew he was a Natal boy in his youth; I guess you learn something every day here on RT!
Great buy for the Sharks what with Alberts spending most of his career on the physios table.
At least the Sharks identified the positions they needed to fill and moved quickly and decisively to get the players they think can do the job for them.
Unlike other teams I know…. like the Stormers who have been unable to buy a decent established flyhalf for the last decade or so….. and when they identified the need for a big strong wing they bought the 79kg Dillon Leyts 🙂
@ robzim:
Today thats Michael Claasens, Jackpot and maybe even Joe P
I see Barney manned up on their site
Great to see, I wish Frans and Barend had the balls to do the same earlier this year
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2015/05/06/smits-open-letter-to-the-fans/#more-36625
14 @ Victoriabok:
I think you are being a bit hard on Frans.
They lost a few games in the beginning of the season, he said he trusts the systems, it’s just the execution that was lacking.
Now they are leading the conference and playing decent rugby, so IMO, he was actually correct in his early season assessments.
The teams apologizing are the Crusaders and Sharks, because pre season there was very high expectations on them at least making the play offs.
Those expectations were not only by the fans or rugby public, but also pretty much all the rugby writers and pundits.
Bulls were expected to fight it out with the Sharks for the top honors in the SA conference, so far Frans and the Bulls are on track to achieve that.
nortie wrote:
He keeps playing his underperforming gatgabbas like Dean, JJ and Visser
We’ll see how the tour goes, they usually suck on the tour
16 @ Victoriabok:
True, but so do ALL coaches.
They play the guys contracted and paid to play, the alternative is to pay other players, who they have no guarantee will perform better, as well as continuing to pay the ones on contract for not playing.
Same way we know Coleman will sub Demetri after half time this coming Saturday.
Victoriabok wrote:
I forgot the utterly useless Callie
A blind guy with a white cane and a dog will manage to find Victor in a lineout but somehow Callie still manages not to
Victoriabok wrote:
The problem with that is all the blind men with white canes and dogs are too busy refereeing and being TMO’s to find time to play hooker
Interesting stat this “By getting a mere three tries in as many matches, the Stormers have only slipped further down the charts in that regard: they now lie 12th on 20 tries from 11 games (average less than two per match) with just the Lions (18), Rebels and Reds (17 each) behind them.”
Strange how the Lions excite everyone, myself included, with the way they play, yet they have scored less tries than the “boring” Stormers.
nortie wrote:
You should see the Sharkie varkies on Guppyworld
I thought we went emo when the Bulls sucked but they are even better at it
They’re complaining about Cameron Wright leaving
Is he related to Garth Wright?
21 @ Victoriabok:
I read Sharksworld every so often as well, with “friends” like their fans, they don’t even need “enemies” like me to be honest.
Nothing I say about them even comes close to what their own fans have to say
nortie wrote:
😛
Guess who’s the sharpest tool in the RT shed today?
Attachment:
Saw a headline today that Joe Pietersen could be off to the Sharks. That to me is one guy that the Stormers treated badly and let slip through their fingers. He can cover FB, FH and wing. Oh yes, he can do the goal kicking and line kicking. And he has pace to burn.
The Cheetahs just didn’t have the cash to keep him.
@ robzim:
@12
According to Gert, he’s been spending plenty time with agents. For players and coaches.
Hopefully, spending plenty money. Wisely.
Let’s wait and see.
Seems like the contracting season is in full swing.
@ Victoriabok:
😀 😀 😀 😀
You win the internet today!
Skopskiet told everybody who was interested to listen for years that Joe P is the best flyhalf in the WP. He even guaranteed it 🙂
@ robzim:
He also guaranteed that sunshine tastes better than a good t-bone
@ IAAS:
@ 25
Lets hope they do… the “moneyball” approach is just not working at the moment. In a vital position like flyhalf they just HAVE to spend big bucks and buy an established star if they want to win a trophy..
nortie wrote:
Lol… I watched a few matches at Newlands with him… a moerse interesting chap who notices small things like the body language of players during the warm ups etc… not your ordinary rugger-bugger 🙂
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