The Blue Bulls Company is delighted to announce the signing of Zak Burger, who joins the Vodacom Bulls effective March 2021 and has signed on until 2024.

The 22-year-old former Paarl Gimnasium scholar has enjoyed several seasons in the colours of the Tafel Lager Griquas where he proved to be a thorn in the side of opposition teams with his high tempo, in-your-face style of play.

Burger represented both DHL Western Province and the Cell C Sharks at junior level before moving to Kimberley after the 2018 U20 World Championship where he earned four Junior Springbok caps and scored two tries.

“Zak has had a phenomenal last few months in Kimberley and we’re keen to add his ability to the collective depth at Loftus. He has consistently performed for the Peacock Blues and his acquisition is exactly the type of player we want to attract to Loftus,” said Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White.

The Vodacom Bulls today confirmed that Springbok scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl will depart Loftus Versfeld to join the English club, Saracens, at the end of June.

Van Zyl joined the Vodacom Bulls in 2014, directly after finishing school across the road at Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool.

The 25-year-old former Junior Springbok made his first-class debut during the 2015 Vodacom Cup campaign and followed this up with his debut in the Carling Currie Cup later that year and his Vodacom Super Rugby debut the following year.

Van Zyl established himself as a sturdy scrumhalf, unafraid of roughing it up with the forwards and providing a crisp pass that serviced his backline effectively.

In 2018, his hard work and relentless pursuit of perfection earned him a Springbok call-up where he made his debut against Wales in Washington DC and has subsequently amassed six caps in the green and gold.

“Ivan has led our backline alongside the veteran Morné Steyn, extremely well and his keen sense of the game has served our game plan perfectly. His direct approach, speed, and strength will be a massive boost for Saracens and we know that he will be an asset to them and wish him well,” said Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White.

Van Zyl expressed his gratitude to the #BullsFamily: “I’ve always wanted to play for this team, having grown up in Pretoria and watching the likes of Fourie du Preez and company. I must thank all involved at Loftus Versfeld for backing me and allowing me to chase my dreams. It’s not goodbye but rather until we see each other again and I wish all my fellow Vodacom Bulls players the best of luck.”

Dear #BullsFamily24,

To start with, you would notice that I have addressed this letter to ‘#BullsFamily24’. We’ve been saying it for many years now, as a supporter of the Vodacom Bulls you are part of OUR FAMILY… a family 2,4 million strong.

You would have also noticed the number ‘24’ on all of our marketing, communication, and around the stadium over the last few months. The explanation of ‘24’ becomes a lot easier now, with our short-term goals being achieved. ‘24’ was a dream… a vision… a target… a goal. We used the number as an image and a symbol to work towards, one that inspired every single member of the team, management, and staff.

The significance of 24 means different things to different people, but the main ones are aligned:

• We worked towards and achieved our 24th Carling Currie Cup title.
• When broken up the ‘4’ was the goal for the amount of Vodacom Super Rugby titles.
• While the ‘2’ was significant of the number of senior titles for the season (Carling Currie Cup and Vodacom Super Rugby).
• The ‘4’ was also relevant to the number of overall titles at senior and junior levels (U19, U21, Carling Currie Cup, and Vodacom Super Rugby).
• It was also a tribute to player number 24, that was the guy that just didn’t make it into the match 23… his attitude and how he approached the week was essential to the spirit in the team.
• Most of all… the Vodacom Bulls have always played with an extra player (figuratively), let’s call it our player 24… and that was you, the fan that never stopped believing in us even through the toughest of times… all 2,4 million of you.

On behalf of everybody at Loftus, I want to sincerely and humbly express our gratitude for your unwavering support. Thank you for investing your time and energy into us… thank you for showing patience and belief, and most importantly thank you for sharing in the ups and downs of this journey.

The 2020/21 season will go down in our history as the strangest season ever but will be noted as a successful one. That chapter is over, and we must now move forward onto the next one. We look forward to our new journey heading into Pro Rugby and sharing these moments with you.

Regards,

Jake White

Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, has named a full-strength matchday squad that will face the Xerox Lions in their Carling Currie Cup semi-final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 23 January 2021.

Stravino Jacobs retains his spot on the left wing as a revamped backline sees the return of David Kriel (fullback) while Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans resume their successful partnership in the midfield.

Kurt-Lee Arendse is set to continue his attacking form on the right wing while Ivan van Zyl and Morné Steyn continue with their halfback pairing as the latter celebrates a ton of provincial matches for the Vodacom Bulls.

Steyn’s contributions to the Vodacom Bulls at the provincial level has been one of dedication and loyalty with all his appearances having been in the light blue jersey.

His 76 Carling Currie Cup caps alongside 18 Vodacom Cup appearances coupled with five sanctioned friendlies is testament to not only his immense talent but also his professionalism.

Amongst the forwards, Duane Vermeulen resumes the captaincy and will man the back of the scrum alongside Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden as blindside and openside flank respectively.

Sintu Manjezi has been named at no.4 lock while his partner Ruan Nortje continues in his role as lineout coordinator in the no.5 jumper.

The young yet incredibly talented Schalk Erasmus will have the confidence knowing that his role at hooker will be aided by two Springbok props in Lizo Gqoboka and Trevor Nyakane.

The bench is littered with players who have given their all when called upon and this weekend’s finishers are no different with Arno Botha, Jacques van Rooyen, Embrose Papier and Chris Smith set to provide vitally important fresh legs in a crucial match.

“We have reached the business end of the Carling Currie Cup and I must commend our entire squad on getting us to this point. Every player in our ranks has contributed to our cause with enthusiasm and a never say die attitude,” said White.

“Focusing on this weekend has been in our minds for the last two weeks and we have done all we can in terms of preparation. We know how to win and we have to just that against a team that has pushed us each time we’ve played them,” he added.

Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Stedman Gans, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl, 8. Duane Vermeulen (C), 7. Elrigh Louw, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Sintu Manjezi, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Schalk Erasmus, 1. Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Jan Uys, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Marco Jansen van Vuren.

The Blue Bulls Company is excited to announce the signing of 29-year-old Springbok loose forward Marcell Coetzee, effective July 2021.

 

Coetzee has penned a three year deal and returns to South Africa after five seasons with GUINNESS PRO16 club Ulster where he quickly became a fan favourite and mainstay in the starting line-up. The former Port Natal High School scholar also represented the Cell C Sharks in Vodacom Super Rugby and the Currie Cup before a short stint with Honda Heat in the Japanese Top League before moving to PRO16.

 

Jake White, director of rugby at the BBCo, “Marcell is a phenomenal player and any team in the world would be ecstatic to have a player of his calibre joining its structures. He has grown from strength to strength over the years, and is currently playing some of the best rugby of his life. He’s excited about being back in South Africa, and making Loftus his home.”