CONFIRMED: Bok fullback signs for SA team
TRANSFER NEWS: Springbok fullback Willie le Roux will be playing in the United Rugby Championship next season.
On Tuesday, the Bulls confirmed that the 33-year-old will be playing his rugby in Pretoria until June 2026.
He will only arrive at Loftus once the Springboks conclude their World Cup campaign.
Le Roux recently ended a four-year stint with Japanese club Verblitz and rumours were circulating that he was going to join a South African team.
The Stormers and Sharks were two of the teams mentioned in reports, but the Bulls have now won the race to secure his signature.
The story continues below…
This is MASSIVE. The World Cup winner, the architect, the legend that is Willie Le Roux is coming to Loftus 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sYKeEJLu3t
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 4, 2023
Le Roux, who has 83 Test caps to his name and is a World Cup winner, played for English side Wasps before he headed to Japan.
In South Africa, he played for the Sharks, Griquas, Cheetahs and Boland.
Le Roux is currently with the Bok squad preparing for the Rugby Championship and he will wear the No.15 jersey against the Wallabies in Saturday’s opener in Pretoria.
“Willie is a world-class player with so much experience behind him,” said Blue Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone.
“Our stable is sure to benefit from having a player with more than 83 caps for his national side. Moreover, we believe that his wealth of experience will really add more stability to our backline.”
Rathbone added: “We are continuing with our ambitions of putting together a squad that can help us not only challenge but go for the crowns whilst playing some entertaining rugby and he is a player that falls into classification. We are all confident that his versatility will be appreciated by both the young and the wise.
“We of course wish him and the Springboks well for the upcoming Rugby Championship and cannot wait to have him join us later in the year.”
The Bulls have been very busy in the transfer market recently.
They also confirmed the signing of Bok hooker Armand van der Merwe on Tuesday.
Last week they announced that Celimpilo Gumede, Sebastian de Klerk, Sergeal Petersen, Khutha Mchunu and Jaco van der Walt all signed on the dotted line.
Earlier this year, the Bulls signed Wilco Louw and Jannes Kirsten ahead of the 2023/2024 season.
🚨NEW SIGNING🚨
Last but certainly not least, the world cup winner, Willie Le Roux is officially a Vodacom Bull 🐂🍾 pic.twitter.com/eNtb4Io7Ha
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 4, 2023
