Pollard one of five new Bok extensions for Bulls

Pretoria based Super Rugby franchise the Bulls have announced that they have
signed a number of high profile Springboks for the next couple of Super Rugby
seasons.

The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd (BBC) which manages Bulls and Blue Bulls have
signed Handre Pollard (Oct 2019), Adriaan Strauss (Oct 2019), Jesse Kriel (Oct
2019), Trevor Nyakane (Oct 2018) and Jan Serfontein (Oct 2017)

“This is a clear indication that frontline players see the Bulls
and Blue Bulls as the ideal place to continue and build their already
impressive careers, ” says High Performance Manager at the BBC, Xander Janse
van Rensburg.

“These players are all expected to be amongst the best in the world in
their positions for a number of years still and should play many test matches
for the Springboks while in Bulls colours. This is a massive endorsement from
them towards our mission statement and drive to be one of the leading rugby
teams in the world. Not only the Bulls, but South African rugby will benefit
in having them based in Pretoria. “

“We believe Blue Bulls rugby has the ability to attract and retain the biggest
names in South African rugby and this is proof of that. “

“We have worked very hard over the last couple of months to steady the ship
and to ensure we remain the preferred team to many of the country’s best players.
We had to re-invent ourselves in a way and owned up to the fact that this team
belongs as much to the fans as to the union and the players in the squad. The
fact that these players want to stay on to be part of this new drive to make
our supporters proud, shows their commitment. They accepted the responsibility
to achieve those goals and that makes us very proud and humbled. Exciting times
await, ” Janse van Rensburg said.

Janse van Rensburg also confirmed that current Currie Cup squad members
Andre Warner (Oct 2017), Dries Swanepoel (Oct 2017), Roelof Smit (Oct 2017)
and Irne Herbst (Oct 2017) signed on for two more seasons.

“All of them have represented SouthAfrica already at various stages of
their young careers and it is great to know that we will be able to call on
their massive potential and abilities for the next couple of seasons. These
players hail from our junior structures and constitutes our new generation,
we are excited about their futures here “

Four new players from outside the union were also recruited. Freddy Ngoza (Flanker,
Free State), Entienne Swanepoel(Prop, WP), Lihleli Xoli (Utility Back, WP) and
Le Roux Roets (Lock, GLRU) have signed contracts till October 2017.

“It is great to have these players around for the next couple of years.
Someone like Le Roux Roets was schooled at Garsfontein and then snapped up by
the Golden Lions, but we are very happy to see him back in blue. Lihleli, Freddy
and Entienne are all players wehave been following closely for the last couple
of seasons and we are excited to see their careers hopefully excel in Pretoria ”
Janse van Rensburg said.