Seven Bulls stalwarts are leaving Loftus. Blue Bulls Company CEO Barend Van Graan has confirmed the departures of Pierre Spies, Jacques Du Plessis, Flip Van der Merwe, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Victor Matfield, Akona Ndungane and Francois Hougaard to French and Japanese clubs as well as retirement. Spies (via Japan) and Du Plessis will join French club Montpellier, Van Der Merwe moves to Clermont-Avergne and Potgieter to Lyon. Matfield will retire after the Rugby World Cup and Ndungane hangs up his boots this weekend as his contract was only extended for this year’s Super Rugby competition.
Van Graan also said ‘au revoir’ to the French contingent: ‘Flip deservedly became an established Springbok while playing for us and represented the Bulls in close to 80 matches. As with Jacques, the realities of the exchange rate and their deserved market value in France made it impossible for us to try and financially compete on our own against those offers. Jacques-Louis also came to our rescue at short notice last year and got us back to winning ways. We will never forget that contribution.’ Van Der Merwe and Du Plessis could still play in the Absa Currie Cup if not being used by the Springboks, as their contracts run till at the end of October. Spies and Hougaard, who are in the same situation, indicated that they would seek an early release to go to Japan, should they not be called up by the Springboks.
Van Graan also acknowledged the contributions of backline coach Pieter Rossouw and physiotherapist Ronee Eksteen, who both will leave the union. Van Graan says: ‘They have done great work over many years and were part of some very successful squads in that time, a testimony of their abilities and contributions.’ According to the BBC High Performance Manager, Xander Janse Van Rensburg, negotiations with Hougaard is ongoing.