Seven players leave the Bulls
While the Cell C Sharks bid farewell to four players this weekend, the Bulls have announced the departure of seven big name players today.
Current captain Pierre Spies, Springbok stalwart Victor Matfield, Francois Hougaard, Jacques du Plessis, Flip van der Merwe, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, and Akona Ndungane will all play their final game for the Pretoria outfit when they take on the Cheetahs tomorrow afternoon.
The Blue Bulls Company confirmed the player exits earlier today.
Former Springbok and Sharks coach Jake White has secured the services of Spies and Du Plessis for French club Montpellier. Van der Merwe is off to Clermont-Auvergne while Potgieter joins Lyon. Matfield and Ndungane are set to retire – the former after the Rugby World Cup.
Hougaard is off to Japan and has not yet confirmed if he will return to Loftus Versveld next season.
However Bulls High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg said negotiations were ongoing with Hougaard.
"He is going to Canon in Japan, but we are still hoping to see him back here for next year's Super Rugby tournament. We are working hard at a possible deal and we are hoping that a national contract could aid our cause. He is a sought-after player because of his versatility."
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
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