Boks extend stay in Pretoria

Cape Town - The Bulls have confirmed the contract extensions of a number of key senior players.

READ: Bulls confirm coaching staff

READ: Bulls say goodbye to 8 stalwarts

Flank Deon Stegmann has opted to extent his stay in Pretoria for a while longer by signing until the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season.

There was uncertainty whether Stegmann would retire to go farming in the Eastern Cape or further his rugby career abroad.

Scrumhalf Piet van Zyl and wing Travis Ismaiel have also extended their stays with the union until the end of October 2017.

Utility back JJ Engelbrecht and forward Grant Hattingh are off to Japan in the next couple of weeks, but will return for next year’s Super Rugby competition.

“We will also have JJ Engelbrecht and Grant Hattingh back for next year's Super Rugby competition, but they are off to Japan in the next couple of weeks and will miss the Currie Cup,” the Blue Bulls Company’s High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, said via a press statement on Wednesday.

The Bulls will welcome having these players on board in Super Rugby next year, especially after the departure of several experienced players.

Stegmann, Van Zyl and Engelbrecht are all Springboks and their experience will prove vital next year.