The Bulls have secured the most sought after signature in South African rugby after Springbok and Cheetahs lock Lood de Jager agreed to a one-year contract with the Loftus Versfeld-based outfit.
De Jager, the reigning South African Rugby Union Player of the Year, has decided to put pen to paper with the three-time Super Rugby champions with the aim of winning some silverware before casting his eyes abroad.
In a rare occurrence within the transfer market in domestic rugby, De Jager has yielded his power as a player by keeping his options open and not committing himself to a long-term contract with the Bulls even though his future employers would have wanted to keep him in the capital for longer.
“I am pretty excited about my future with the Vodacom Bulls and what they want to achieve. That said, I am still committed to the Cheetahs till the end of the season and will give my all in playing for them. They have been instrumental in the way my career developed and I want to thank them in the best way possible - by giving my all every time I take to the field for them,” said De Jager.
The 23-year-old has been at the centre of a tug-of-war between the Cheetahs, Bulls and Lions with the Lions allegedly having thrown a lucrative multi-million rand offer towards De Jager who they would have wanted to replace Springbok lock Franco Mostert who is leaving for France at the end of the Super Rugby season.
The Bulls have been running low with their stocks at lock since Victor Matfield's retirement while they have struggled to replace Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw in years gone by and crowd-puller De Jager, who has already played 20 Test s for the Boks, has been on their radar from his playing days at the Leopards. - The Star