Cape Town - With the Super Rugby season set to get underway in little over two weeks' time, the Bulls have been hit with a major injury blow.
Springbok RG Snyman, a first choice at lock, will spend two months on the sidelines after returning from Japan with an ankle injury.
Snyman, who will undergo an operation on Tuesday, spent the Japanese season playing for Honda Heat.
There was some good news for the Bulls, however, with Springbok No 8, Duane Vermeulen, reporting for training for the first time with the franchise.
Vermeulen will play for the Pretoria-based team during this year's Super Rugby competition.
After beating the Lions 21-17 in a pre-season warm-up match over the weekend, the Bulls next face the Stormers on Sunday (February 3) at Cape Town Stadium.
Bad news for @BlueBullsRugby - @Springboks lock RG Snyman returned from Japan where he was playing for Honda Heat with a bad ankle injury. He will be operated on Tuesday and will be out for 8 weeks #injury #SuperRugby
— Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel) January 28, 2019
@duane_vermeulen is finally at #loftus @BlueBullsRugby pic.twitter.com/sAexnxsrJH
— Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel) January 28, 2019