Bulls welcome return of key players

Cape Town - The Bulls have received some good news ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season with the return to fitness of a number of key players. 

Wing Travis Ismaiel has fully recovered from shoulder surgery while flank Roelof Smit has bounced back from another serious knee injury.

Fullback Warrick Gelant, flank Tim Agaba and loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka are all over their respective injuries too and will be available for the start of the season. 

Former Springbok flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff and 2018 Bok flank Marco van Staden (shoulder), meanwhile, are only expected back at the beginning of April while hooker Edgar Marutlulle (ankle) will also miss the opening month of the season.

Hooker Jaco Visagie is back from his loan to English Premiership side Gloucester, but he is recovering from an ankle niggle and will be consulting with a specialist in Cape Town.

The Bulls' first match of the 2019 tournament will be against the Stormers at Loftus on February 19.