Cape Town - Bulls lock Grant Hattingh is reportedly heading to Japan after the completion of this year's Super Rugby competition.
Bulls High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, told Netwerk24 that Hattingh has a "Japan clause" in his contract.
Should Hattingh leave for Japan, he would miss this year's Currie Cup competition, but return in time for Super Rugby in 2016.
This follows the news that Flip vand er Merwe and Jacques du Plessis decided to further their careers in France at the end of the season.
Netwerk24 also reports that No 8 Pierre Spies could possibly play in Japan in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Bulls start their 2015 Super Rugby campaign at home against the Stormers on Saturday (19:10 kick-off).
Teams:
Bulls:
15. Jurgen Visser, 14. Bjorn Basson, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Piet van Zyl, 8. Arno Botha, 7. Lappies Labuschagne, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Jacques du Plessis, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Trevor Nyakane
Substitutes: 16. Callie Visagie, 17. Morne Mellet, 18. Dayan vd Westhuizen/Neethling Fouche, 19. Grant Hattingh, 20. Pierre Spies, 21. Rudy Paige, 22. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 23. Jesse Kriel
Stormers:
TBA