Cape Town - Bulls coach Frans Ludeke says Springbok utility back Francois Hougaard will mainly play at scrumhalf in this year's Super Rugby tournament.
Hougaard has been used at wing by both the Bulls and the Springboks to great effect in the last while but Ludeke admitted to Beeld that Hougaard will play most of his rugby this season in the No 9 jumper.
"Hougie wants to make his mark at scrumhalf this year and we gave him the assurance that he will get enough chances there," said Ludeke.
He will, however, still be used on the left wing at times by the three-time Super Rugby champions.
Jano Vermaak is the other main scrumhalf on their books and he will add valuable experience at No 9. Hougaard has only played five of his 29 Super Rugby matches for the Bulls at scrumhalf, while Vermaak has 62 Super Rugby appearances for the Lions in this position.
"Hougie really wants to play there (scrumhalf), but he's also a team man and realise that there could be times where we might call on his number at wing.
"Jano is himself a brilliant player and then we obviously also have Ruan Snyman to call upon," said Ludeke.
The amount of times Hougaard would have to help out on the wing will probably depend on the form of new recruit JJ Engelbrecht, veteran wing Akona Ndungane and speedster Bjorn Basson.
Hougaard has been used at wing by both the Bulls and the Springboks to great effect in the last while but Ludeke admitted to Beeld that Hougaard will play most of his rugby this season in the No 9 jumper.
"Hougie wants to make his mark at scrumhalf this year and we gave him the assurance that he will get enough chances there," said Ludeke.
He will, however, still be used on the left wing at times by the three-time Super Rugby champions.
Jano Vermaak is the other main scrumhalf on their books and he will add valuable experience at No 9. Hougaard has only played five of his 29 Super Rugby matches for the Bulls at scrumhalf, while Vermaak has 62 Super Rugby appearances for the Lions in this position.
"Hougie really wants to play there (scrumhalf), but he's also a team man and realise that there could be times where we might call on his number at wing.
"Jano is himself a brilliant player and then we obviously also have Ruan Snyman to call upon," said Ludeke.
The amount of times Hougaard would have to help out on the wing will probably depend on the form of new recruit JJ Engelbrecht, veteran wing Akona Ndungane and speedster Bjorn Basson.