#BullsFamily bids farewell to Kotze

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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.”

Hot-stepper Aplon joins #BullsFamily

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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.”

#BullsFamily appoint Rathbone as new CEO

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The #BullsFamily is excited to confirm that current Managing Director of Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd, Edgar Rathbone, will be taking over the reigns as CEO of the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd following the resignation of Alfons Meyer.

 

Rathbone, who will officially start at the Vodacom Bulls on 1 June 2020, is no stranger to the rugby environment. He has been a pillar and servant to the Lions Rugby Company and Ellis Park for the last seven years, starting his rugby journey as head of Finance and Administration in 2013. In 2014 he was appointed Chief Financial Officer holding the position for two years, before becoming Chief Financial and Commercial Officer in 2016.  In 2017 he was appointed as the managing Director of Ellis Park Stadium, responsible for managing the Ellis Park precinct which includes Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Stadium and Ellis Park Indoor Arena as well as being the commercial arm of Lions Rugby Company.

 

Rathbone comes to Loftus with a very strong commercial background, and truly understands the importance of finding the perfect balance between the evolution of rugby and everything around it, while still treasuring the traditions and the heritage thereof. He will be instrumental in implementing the Board’s vision of re-establishing the Vodacom Bulls and Blue Bulls as a force on the field, while making Loftus a venue that will become synonymous with great live experiences whether it be rugby, football or other social events.

 

Rathbone grew up in Somerset East and spent most of his childhood in the Eastern Cape where he attended Gill College. He later attended Stellenbosch University, obtaining B.Acc (Hons) Accounting. While there, he also became a regular scrumhalf for Maties at junior level.  He currently lives in Pretoria together with his wife Pauline and their two children.

Rathbone shared his eagerness to get going, “I have always had immense respect for the Vodacom Bulls and I’m extremely excited about this new chapter in my life. I am sincerely looking forward to getting stuck in and doing my best to add to the legacy of the #BullsFamily. Even though it’s extremely sad saying goodbye to my colleagues at the Lions, I do look forward to making new friends and partnerships at Loftus.”

 

Pieter Uys, chairman of the BBCo board welcomed Rathbone, “We are extremely excited to welcome Edgar to the #BullsFamily. He is a vibrant young man, with an extremely dynamic mindset and way of thinking. Edgar is well respected in the rugby industry and has done some phenomenal work with the Lions. We firmly believe that he will play a majorrole in taking the Bulls brand forward into a new era.”

 

https://youtu.be/wae6rUG1Jsg        

Van der Merwe returns to Loftus Versfeld

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It is with great excitement that the Blue Bulls Company welcomes back Springbok prop, Marcel van der Merwe, after a stint with French Top 14 club Toulon. The powerful yet mobile front rower will join the Vodacom Bulls as of July 2020.

Van der Merwe established himself at the Vodacom Bulls when he made the move from Bloemfontein in 2014 after making his Vodacom Super Rugby debut for the Toyota Cheetahs.

His performances in that 2014 Vodacom Super Rugby earned him a Springbok call up where he earned seven Test caps. He also represented the Junior Springboks in 2010 and earned a South A cap in 2016 against the French Barbarians.

The former Grey College scholar wore the Vodacom Bulls jersey on 45 occasions, scoring six tries while he also ran out in the colours of the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

Van der Merwe returns to South African shores after impressive performances with Toulon and his experience in France and its forward dominated approach to rugby will have only sharpened his abilities.

Van der Merwe recorded a message for the #BullsFamily announcing his return to Loftus Versfeld.

“I’m excited to confirm that I’ve signed with the Vodacom Bulls. Loftus and the Bulls have always had a special place in my heart and I look forward to coming back home. I’ll see you all soon.”

Van der Merwe returns to Loftus Versfeld

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It is with great excitement that the Blue Bulls Company welcomes back Springbok prop, Marcel van der Merwe, after a stint with French Top 14 club Toulon. The powerful yet mobile front rower will join the Vodacom Bulls as of July 2020.

Van der Merwe established himself at the Vodacom Bulls when he made the move from Bloemfontein in 2014 after making his Vodacom Super Rugby debut for the Toyota Cheetahs.

His performances in that 2014 Vodacom Super Rugby earned him a Springbok call up where he earned seven Test caps. He also represented the Junior Springboks in 2010 and earned a South A cap in 2016 against the French Barbarians.

The former Grey College scholar wore the Vodacom Bulls jersey on 45 occasions, scoring six tries while he also ran out in the colours of the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

Van der Merwe returns to South African shores after impressive performances with Toulon and his experience in France and its forward dominated approach to rugby will have only sharpened his abilities.

Van der Merwe recorded a message for the #BullsFamily announcing his return to Loftus Versfeld.

“I’m excited to confirm that I’ve signed with the Vodacom Bulls. Loftus and the Bulls have always had a special place in my heart and I look forward to coming back home. I’ll see you all soon.”

#BullsFamily bids farewell to CEO

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It is with regret that the Blue Bulls Company announces that its Chief Executive Officer Alfons Meyer will be leaving the company at the end of May 2020. Blue Bulls Board Chairman Pieter Uys said: “We would like to thank Alfons for his great contribution to the company. Over the past year he has been instrumental in the restructure of the Blue Bulls Company, and has laid a strong foundation on which the company can build and become the world class team again that it once was. We respect Alfons’ decision to step down and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Alfons Meyer said “ I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bulls, it has been the highlight of my professional career. 2019 was an exceptional year to be part of the Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby campaign , and to play a major role in the equity transaction which saw Mr. Patrice Motsepe become part of the #BullsFamily as an investor was a privilege. I wish the staff and players all the best, especially during these extraordinary times – I will remain a loyal supporter forever!”

Vodacom Bulls Facebook Live Concert

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This weekend, Saturday 17h15 to be exact, would have been the epic ‘TRANS-JUKSKEI’ derby, with the Vodacom Bulls hosting the Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld…

Well, that’s still not happening (not to rub salt in the wound ????).

Our buddy Dylan Pretorius, runner-up in the VOICE South Africa season 2 and just an overall lekker guy, would have been performing in the Beer Garden before kickoff.

So, it got us thinking… Why stop the entertainment, even in the absence of rugby? ????

Dylan has agreed to doing a live performance on the Vodacom Bulls Facebook page on Saturday starting at 17h15. It’s the first time any local rugby team will be hosting a Facebook Live concert, so we are super-excited about inviting you join us.

What does this mean for you, and how does it work?

  • The musical set will be performed live from Dylan’s Studio (so he’ll be safe and isolated in his house).
  • You can join the show, from the safety of your home, by simply visiting the Vodacom Bulls Facebook page on Saturday at 17h15 https://web.facebook.com/BullsOfficial/
  • Link up your cell phone or computer to your speakers, pour yourself a lekker beverage and start the braai fire. ????
  • You will be encourage to engage and interact with the artist by commenting on Facebook. He will take a few requests and engage back with fans while performing.
  • Feel free to engage with other users on the stream… chat about the music, rugby and share your predications of what the game would have been like… it’s a social event, enjoy it.

SA’s rugby heroes take on SA’s gamers in first Vodacom Super Cup Series

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Vodacom Esports is about to take gaming to the next level as South Africa’s Vodacom Super Rugby stars swop their line drives for hard drives and take on the country’s top gamers in the new Vodacom Super Cup Series in partnership with Mettlestate.

Starting this April, the Vodacom Super Cup Series will feature three weeks of top gaming action, giving South Africa’s gaming community the opportunity to take on their Vodacom Super Rugby heroes in the games of FIFA20 and PUBG Mobile.

Each week will be its own Vodacom Super Cup Series with a champion crowned at the end of it. The first and last weeks will be a contest on FIFA20 and the middle week will be a battle on PUBG Mobile.

During each contest, the gaming community will battle it out amongst themselves to uncover an overall champion, and the Vodacom Super Rugby players will do the same. At the end of that week, the respective champions will take on each other in the final to be crowned that week’s Vodacom Super Cup Series champion.

Sam “Tech Girl” Wright will provide the world-class commentary to this exhilarating esports action as she interviews Vodacom Super Rugby players and gamers during the Vodacom Super Cup Series.

Each episode will be released on YouTube and the links will be shared on Vodacom and Mettlestate’s social media pages.

Registration for the first contest will open on Friday the week before, and the following two weeks will see registration take place on a Tuesday. The gamers’ qualifiers will take place on the Wednesday of each week, and the Vodacom

Super Rugby players will have their qualifier on the Thursday. Friday will feature the final between the respective group’s champions.

 

Vodacom Super Cup Series Dates:

Cup 1: 8-10 April (Registration opens 3 April)

Cup 2: 15-17 April (Registration opens 7 April)

Cup 3: 22-24 April (Registration opens 14 April)

 

Registrations will take place at https://www.mettlestate.com/vodacom-super-cup/4qpitc

Players must register each week for the respective cup contests.

 

There is more than just gaming glory on the line. Each week will feature prizes for the first, second and third-place finishers as follows:

· 1st place: A Samsung S20, a Vodacom Super Rugby Marvel-inspired jersey, R200 airtime and 10GB data courtesy of Vodacom

· 2nd place: A Vodacom Super Rugby Marvel-inspired jersey, a Samsung wearable, R200 airtime and 10GB data courtesy of Vodacom

· 3rd place: A Vodacom Super Rugby Marvel-inspired jersey, R200 airtime and 10GB data courtesy of Vodacom

 

Follow the action using #SuperCupSerie

#BullsFamily welcomes Jake White

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The Blue Bulls Company are excited to confirm that Jake White has signed on as Director of Rugby and will be officially joining the #BullsFamily effective immediately until the 2023 World Cup.

The former Springbok coach and Rugby World Cup winner assumes the position vacated by Alan Zondagh, who stepped down earlier this year.

White has recently been coaching the Toyota Verblitz in Japan and joins the Vodacom Bulls with over four decades of coaching experience stretching back to the early 1980s. His global experience at the highest levels, particularly in Vodacom Super Rugby as the former head coach of both the Cell C Sharks and Brumbies, will benefit the Vodacom Bulls as they continue to add to their resources.

Blue Bulls Company CEO, Alfonso Meyer, shared his sentiments on White’s impending arrival.

“We are extremely excited with Jake’s decision to join us. His credentials speak for itself and we know his contributions are only going to improve our rugby across the board. Jake’s appointment is yet another step in the right direction as we endeavour to take this brand into a new era. We wish him well in his new role,” said Meyer.

White expressed his eagerness at getting the ball rolling, “The Vodacom Bulls brand has always been a powerhouse in rugby, and respected around the world. There’s a great history and heritage here, and I’m looking forward to adding my contribution to the Bulls’ legacy. The shareholders, Remgro, Patrice Motsepe and the BBRU, together with the staff, have an amazing ambition to not only take the Bulls back to number one, but also re-invent and re-mould the face of rugby in this country.”

White is a straight forward man, and didn’t sugar coat the need to start winning, “We need to re-build a winning culture at Loftus, and that will no doubt bring the fans back to their beloved Loftus Versfeld. This won’t be easy, but we are up for it.”

The former Bok coach is also keen to do his bit to indirectly contribute to the national setup, “It’s no secret that our franchise rugby needs to be strong for the Boks to be strong. I’m looking forward to doing whatever it takes help keep them at number one.”

To view or download our Jake White infographic, click here.

2020 Super Rugby tournament suspended due to COVID-19

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Following a SANZAAR Executive Committee (EXCO) teleconference in response to the announcement by the New Zealand Government that all returning travellers will have to self-isolate for 14 days, including Super Rugby players, SANZAAR believes it has no option but to suspend the 2020 Super Rugby tournament after this weekend’s matches for the foreseeable future.

Five New Zealand teams play in the 15-team Super Rugby tournament and SANZAAR completely understands the directive issued by the New Zealand Government given concerns globally over the COVID-19 virus and the primary aim to reduce exposure and spread of the virus.

SANZAR CEO Andy Marinos stated, “the safety and welfare of the public, our players and other stakeholders is paramount and as previously stated we were always going to abide by government and health authority instructions on the issue of COVID-19 containment.”

“We are extremely disappointed for the players, our fans, broadcasters, and partners but given the complexity of our competition structure, and the multiple geographies that we cover, we have no other option but to align with such directives. We also believe it is time for all those players currently overseas to return home and to be with their families.”

“Our priority is, therefore, to ensure our players are within their homes territories from the end of this weekend. SANZAAR will also remain engaged with its stakeholders and will continue to explore avenues to see if we can keep the rugby product alive within our core markets, with the possibility to be in a position to resume the tournament if at all possible in future weeks. We have currently played seven rounds out of the 18 in the normal regular season”.

Furthermore, in another move on Saturday evening/Sunday morning the Round 7 Jaguares vs Highlanders Super Rugby fixture scheduled to be played at José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires on Saturday 14 March 2020, was cancelled in response to on-going player welfare concerns related to the COVID-19 virus. The decision came following concerns in response to the uncertainty created by the Highlanders Players and Management having to enter self-isolation upon return to New Zealand following the New Zealand governments recently announced travel restrictions.

As per SANZAAR Tournament Rules, the decision to cancel a match is made by the SANZAAR Executive Committee following consultation with key stakeholders.  Ultimately the decision is made to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, but to also maintain the integrity of the sport.

SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos stated: “SANZAAR does not take this decision lightly, but after consulting widely with key stakeholders, the SANZAAR Executive Committee has taken the necessary step to cancel the scheduled fixture with the players and team management health and welfare paramount. As stated previously while disappointed to be in this position our priority is to ensure the players currently overseas return home healthy and safely to be with their families.”

SANZAAR policy states that in the event of a match cancellation under such circumstances, the match will be officially declared a draw and both teams will receive 2 competition points.

SANZAAR will issue further information on Super Rugby 2020 and any potential rescheduled fixtures in the days ahead.