Bulls scrumhalf, Fourie du Preez, on Wednesday extended his contract with the union till the conclusion of the Super 15 competition in 2011.
Du Preez, who turns 28 next week, also signed his Springbok contract that will keep him in Green and Gold till the end of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.
He will then join a club side in Japan.
Du Preez, who made his debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in 2001 and for the Vodacom Bulls in 2003, wants to end his successful relationship with the Bulls on a high.
“These were the best rugby years of my life and I could never have played for another union. By revealing my plans for the future now, it will give the Bulls sufficient time to plan for the future and possible successors. There is already some excellent players like Francois Hougaard knocking on the door, so it is time to move on,” Du Preez said.
“I was happy to be involved with the Bulls during arguably the best era they have ever had. It remains a massive honour to be part of the structures started and maintained by world class coaches such as Heyneke Meyer and Frans Ludeke. “The leadership of Victor Matfield and the bond between the team members are also things I will always treasure. There is still time for me to add value and it is something I look forward to.”
With regards to the national side, Du Preez indicated that the joy he had playing for the Springboks in 2009 made it easy to commit himself to the national cause till after the World Cup.
“There is the chance to play in another World Cup, but also the knowledge that I will enjoy the experience. Last season was the most enjoyable I have had in the Bok jersey and I think Peter de Villiers deserve a lot of credit for that. I feel we have the experience and core group in the team to make a serious run at the Webb Ellis trophy again,” Du Preez said.
His decision to play in Japan was equally easy to make, he said.
“After 11 years at the Bulls, I am affording myself the opportunity to change the scenery and to expose myself to a different culture. This contract will allow me that,” Du Preez said.
“I think I can learn a lot and broaden my horizons in the game at the same time, which will help should I opt for a career in coaching later on in my life.”
Ludeke indicated that Du Preez’s decision will leave them with enough time to start a succession plan.
“Again Fourie did not only act in his own interests, but thought of the team as well. As one of the architects of the success the Bulls enjoyed in recent years, his input in our planning will be highly valued and it is nice to know he will be around for a while still. I know he had many offers and options, but he again showed his commitment to the Bulls.
Ludeke said investment in possible replacements will start soon.
“Fourie is a student of the game and will help in the process to indentify and bring the right successors through,” Ludeke said.
Fourie du Preez facts:
Vodacom Blue Bulls (debut, 2001 vs Leopards). 51 matches, 100 points.
Vodacom Bulls (debut, 2003 vs Brumbies). 89 matches, 90 points.
South Africa (debut, 2004 vs Ireland). 55 Tests, 65 points.
dANKIE bLOUSTE, JA A MAN MUST EAT
He he he
No prob man…
Eet is BAIE belangrik !!! 😆
In elk geval, dis groot van Fourie om die Bulle so lank voor die tyd in kennis te stel.
Hy was ‘n grootte vir die Bulle en een van my gunsteling spelers.
Hougaard sal ‘n goeie opvolger wees.Gaan nog naie in die tyd by Fourie leer.
Reaksie op Bulle se site-
Nou wag ons net om die amptelike nuus te kry oor Victor, Bakkies, Danie Rossouw en Pedrie Wannenburg se toekoms. Kans is seker goed dat hulle ook ná 2011 gaan klaarmaak (of, in die geval van Pedrie, ook ‘n bietjie ander kulture oorsee gaan leer ken)…
Gelukkig behoort die Bulle nie ‘n probleem te hê wat leierskap betref nie. Heyneke Meyer het al herhaaldelik gesê dat ‘n span genoeg leiers moet hê om suksesvol te wees.
As Victor en Fourie tegelyk klaarmaak, sal daar gelukkig nog baie sterk leiers by die Bulle oorbly. Met sy ongelooflike sterk persoonlikheid behoort Gary Botha die Bulle vir nog ‘n paar seisoene ná 2011 te lei. Hy het gelukkig klaar sy draai in die buiteland gemaak. Dan is daar nog Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuun, Pierre Spies en Wynand Olivier.
En kom ons wees maar eerlik, hoe lank sal Fourie du Preez nog beter bly as Francois Hougaard? Sal Hougaard vir altyd bereid wees om uit posisie te speel net om speelkans te kry? Dit laat my amper dink aan die vroeë 2000’s toe Fourie in Joost se nek begin blaas het. Joost het destyds ook net vasgebyt vir een laaste wêreldbeker (en ‘n paar honderd-duisend rand as goue handdruk…)
Posted by Sooi Brandt (Pretoria
Kan my nie ‘n Bulle span sonder FdP indink nie!
Weereens wys hy wat integriteit is, jy respekteer jou werkgewer- anders as J Fourie, Willem Alberts,Ludick en les bes Habana.
FdP sal verseker speel as hy nie beseer is nie, en gelukkig is die tweede beste skrumskakel in SA is ook by die Bulle!
@5 super..
Hoor hoor !!!
Met boodskappe soos die wys dit darem hoe lekker dit is om n Blou Bul te wees. Fourie jy sal vir altyd ingeets wees in my herineringe. Jy was eenvoudig in n klas van jou eie, die ander volg. Dankie dat jy ons nog 2 Super 14 seisoene gaan vergas met jou skitterende spel.
Superbul
Ek kyk nou so na sy statistieke en sien hy het in 2003 sy debuut gemaak vir die Bulle. Dus was hy toe 22. En ek skat hy het seker in 2004 die eerste keuse skrumskakel by die Bulle geword, toe hy 23 was.
Ek sien Hougaard is in 1988 gebore, dus word hy 22 die jaar. En as hy volgende jaar by Du Preez oorvat, sal hy 23 wees. Dus kan hy met ‘n geruste hart weet dat hy net so ‘n lang loopbaan soos Fourie kan he by die Bulle.
Ai, ons opvolg beplanning is darem maar seepglad. Welgedaan Fourie, jy is een van die grotes van all tye.
En Francois, mag jy Fourie se skoene eendag met lof volstaan.
Posted by Shannow Wednesday, March 17, 2010 – 17:26
8. Fourie
BAIE DANKIE vir jou lojaliteit. Jy is n WARE Sportman. Daar is n paar ander “sportmanne” wat HOPELIK nou bloerooi in die gesig is. Sterkte vorentoe.
Dit is ook goed om te weet dat die BBM WEET hoe om te beplan vir die toekoms. Francois en Heinie sal die no 9 trui goed dra.
Sterkte vir die Bulle Vrydag. Vodacom en Super 14.
Posted by Bl@de Runner
Ja nee super…
Dit wys net daar is nog plek vir integriteit en lojaliteit in die profesionele area…
Lekker om ‘n Bul te wees !!!!
Blouste jy moet jou kontak nommers vir my gee voor jy diekant toe kom, stuur net n mail na die webmaster hier ek sal hom kry.
Ek sal so maak.
Kom hier by die 5de/6de Junie.
Paar goedjies om te doen, maar is redelik los tot die 11de Junie.
Dan werk tot die 12de Julie.
Dan kom mamma af en ons gaan seker so twee weke bietjie in die “valley” kuier.
Jy gaan swaar weggaan hier, as jy eers hierdie plek se rustigheid geniet en sy water drink bly hy klou aan jou lyf
Nee, ek weet ou maat.
As ek kon kies het ek in elk geval daar gebly. Kom gereeld daar, wel soos ek kan.
Net die laaste jaar bietjie vasgedraai. Skat die tydjie sal darem opmaak daarvoor !!!
croc blog ook hier , ken jy hom? Hy is glo op n lodge naby Thornybush.
Blouste ek het gesien Pietman will ook hier na die Leaveld toe kom binnekort, hy en AB sal ontmoet en dan sal hy hier draai, ons moet kyk of ons nie iewers kan bymekaar kom nie, jy sal Pietman baie geniet. Daai man kan vir jou stories vertel.
Jisja, ons maak so, ek wil net gou eers Namibia toe sodra dit koeler is, dan sien ek julle Bosvelders hopelik daarna!
Sal lekker wees.
Well FdP has done the Bulls proud and all the best to him after he leaves in 2011. A rugby career can never last forever. So go get as much money as you can Fourie. You deserve it.
Hello Puma!
Check you okes laters, going for a chenin blanc on the rocks down at the beach to talk to my ”kabeljou mates for a while.
15 – Hello Piet, How you doing?
17 – Piet, Jeepers life sounds good there….hehehe. Enjoy it.
Lekka Puma man, life is good in the old R of SA…..you have been busy I see?
I miss the jogging, that’s all, knee still busted, swelling at the slightest twist.
Going to have it checked in Cape Town soon, at an old friend of mine who is in the surgery business.
See you laters,enjoyed our chat with OldGriqua this morning, btw….
17
Ja Pietman vroeg in Julie daais die tyd, dan kom jy sommer weg van al die WC stront. 😆
Hallo Superbul, Puma en Pietman 🙂
sB
Saak is reg, ek wil ontsnap uit die Kaap met die sokker, moet in Korea ook gaan draai teen die middel van
Terloops, Telkom het vandag gebel, hulle is moreby my, uiteindelik! die jaar, juis gedink om met die sokkertyd te waai soontoe…
20 – Piet, just never twist that knee. Try and stay off of it for a bit. Makes it worse. I know I have really bad knees.
Ja, was very good to speak with Old Griquas. Always enjoy speaking with him.
Yellow Karen, hoe gaan dit down there
Cheers Piet, out of here. Said cheers on another thread….haha. Seems we all posting on different threads.
Yellow Superbul – gaan goed hier ini Kaap en daar by jou? Hey jou kleinseun is te pragtig man – jis jy moet so trots wees
Grrrrrrrrrr
Flok, flok, flok!
Moerrrrrrrrrrrrr
Oi!
28
Waar de donner was jy, weer arms gedruk met die polieste?
29@ SuperBul – Nee man, die tille moes rol, was Pretoorsdorp toe vir besigheid.
Hel vrind, ons kan darem maar nie kla oor ons Bulle spelers nie, Fourie du Preez se lojalitiet is ongelooflik mooi… hy laat die Bulle mooi vroeg weet.
Ek wens Fourie du Preez net die mooiste en beste toe en sal sorg dat ek sy hand skud binnekort!
Dis darem jammer dat so ‘n briljante speler nie vir altyd jonk kan bly nie, hy is ‘n generaal van formaat en ‘n groot deel van die Bulle se sukses en Morné Steyn se wonderlike verbetering in spel is aan Fourie te danke.
Maar niemand is onmisbaar nie, soms net moeilik vervangbaar…..
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