The Vodacom Bulls confirm that lock Walt Steenkamp will join the team as of November 2020 after he signed a two-year deal with the #BullsFamily. The towering 24-year-old lock forward, who stands 2.03m at 121kg, had been gaining valuable experience in the Guinness PRO14 for the Toyota Cheetahs before opting to ply his trade in Pretoria.

Steenkamp made his mark in the FNB Varsity Cup in the colours of NWU-Pukke, where he made a valuable contribution in 2016 when the Potchefstroom-based university clinched the final against FNB Maties in overtime. In 2018, he was awarded the prestigious “Player that Rocks” award, before moving on to the Currie Cup First Division, where he made a massive impact for the Leopards.

The mobile yet imposing lock made the trip to Bloemfontein where he continued to impress for the Toyota Cheetahs especially on the heavier European fields. His arrival at Loftus Versfeld will most certainly benefit the second row as Director of Rugby, Jake White, continues attracting experience to Loftus Versfeld.

Steenkamp is looking forward to putting on the Bulls jersey, “ It’s a big step in my career, and there are certainly some big shoes to fill, but I look forward to putting on the Bulls jersey and making the Loftus faithful proud. I’m also excited about working with a coach like Jake, it is a great opportunity for me and I hope to grow from strength to strength under his leadership.”

Steenkamp is a soft-spoken and humble young man, with a rather dry sense of humour, but becomes a different animal when he crosses the white lines on to the playing field… similar to most other locks that have donned the Vodacom Bulls jersey

https://youtu.be/W2AyZlNW2xc    

The #BullsFamily today officially bid a fond farewell to Johnny Kotze, who quickly became a crowd favorite, working tirelessly to entrench himself into the hearts of the Loftus faithful. Kotze, whose preferred position is at outside centre and is also very comfortable on the wings, was one of the more consistent starters over the last few years. He displayed an amazing overall work rate, with seven line breaks in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby season thus far (6 games).

The hard-running centre also boasted an amazing tackle rate of 84%, with a 70% gain-line success rate. He started his career at Western Province, before moving up to Loftus in 2017, also having served a brief off-season stint with the Ospreys at the end of 2018.

Alfons Meyer, CEO of the Blue Bulls Company, expressed his gratitude for Kotze’s loyal service, “Johnny is the epitome of a team man and was willing to do whatever was needed for the team. I’d like to sincerely thank him for being part of this #BullsFamily, and for committing the last few years to us. We wish him all the best with his future endeavors, and have no doubt that he will make a massive impact at his new club The Shimizu Blue Sharks in Japan.”

Kotze thanked the Vodacom Bulls for the journey thus far, “You always hear people describe life as a journey. It is at a time like this that one realizes just how true that statement is. I’ve truly enjoyed my time at the Bulls, and have met some amazing people here… people that I would hope to call friends for the rest of my life. Thank you to everybody at the #BullsFamily that has contributed to my career thus far and made my stay at Loftus one that I will never forget.”

Kotze, as always, finished with a smile and friendly little chirp, “I look forward to catching up with my Bulls mates in years to come, and reminiscing about our good old rugby days… I may even teach them how to make sushi then.”

The Vodacom Bulls confirm the signing of Springbok utility back Gio Aplon, who will join the team from June or as soon as he is able to travel back to South Africa, as Director of Rugby Jake White continues to build his player group. Aplon proved to be a nemesis of his new team when he played in the colours of the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province.  He epitomised the phrase ‘size doesn’t matter’ with his explosive speed and nimble feet allowing him to score tries from almost anywhere on the field, taking on the biggest and the best the game had to offer.

A long and illustrious career in Cape Town, which saw the former Hawthorn School scholar lifting the coveted Currie Cup in 2012, came to an end in 2014 as he moved to French Top 14 club, Grenoble, where he flourished despite the heavier fields.

Aplon joins the Vodacom Bulls from Toyota Verblitz where he played under White’s tutelage. There is no doubt that his experience and amazing skillset will not only benefit the team but also assist in the further development of the exciting younger outside backs.

The hot-stepping speedster shared his respect for the #BullsFamily: “The Vodacom Bulls have always been a formidable force in the rugby world. I have always had a great deal of respect for the brand and what it has achieved, and I am truly looking forward to running out at Loftus. Coach Jake has an amazing vision and plan for the team, and I am just honoured that he wants me as part of it. I look forward to making the #BullsFamily proud.”