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Bulls in fight to keep players

JJ Harmse

Pretoria – The Bulls will not only be fighting to keep their title as the best team in Super Rugby, they will also be fighting to keep their players.

The team’s success in Super Rugby and the seniority of the core squad means that several players whose contracts end this year are being courted with big-money offers.

Reports that the Lions want Bakkies Botha in their team come as no surprise.

More Bulls players are set to be lured to the Lions by big-money offers.

Botha had indicated that he will retire with lock partner Victor Matfield at the end of the year, while information at Sport24’s disposal indicates that Danie Rossouw is heading for Japan.

Rossouw is expected to play for Suntory Sungoliath – the same team that Fourie du Preez has signed for.

The team’s coach, Eddie Jones, was in South Africa last week to finalise contracts with Du Preez and Rossouw.

Du Preez already announced last season that he would play in Japan for three seasons.

Sport24’s French sources indicate that Toulouse are courting Gurthrö Steenkamp and Gary Botha.

Negotiations with the two players are at an advanced stage, while Wynand Olivier has also been approached by several clubs in France.

Bayonne, who tried to sign Olivier in 2007, have apparently renewed their interest.

Other Bulls players whose contracts expire at the end of the year are Deon Stegmann, Jaco Pretorius and Gerhard van den Heever.

Pretorius and Stegmann have already indicated that they would like to stay on, while apparently there is interest from Australia in contracting Van den Heever.

Blue Bulls Company (BBM) high performance manager Ian Schwartz said that there were plenty of offers being made at present.

“The BBM has the option to aggressively sign new players or support its existing structures. The latter is an option that has delivered good results in the past, but we have never been afraid to look outside the structures.”

The BBM have also acted pro-actively and expanded their depth in certain positions.

Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger and Fudge Mabeta will be able to take over from Botha, Matfield and Rossouw.

Francois Hougaard will step into the void left by Du Preez, while Dean Greyling and Chiliboy Ralepelle can replace Steenkamp and Botha. Stefan Watermeyer can move up to the Bulls squad should Olivier goes to Bayonne.
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