Bulls boss brings in familiar faces
NEWS: Following the announcement of Pote Human as Bulls head coach a few weeks ago, the Blue Bulls Company have unveiled their new captain and coaching team for the 2019 season.
Springbok lock Lodewyk de Jager has been named the captain for the 2019 season. The Springbok made a sterling start to the 2018 season, however, it was cut short with a pectoral tear.
Nonetheless, he remained as an unspoken team assistant during his recovery and stayed close to the team and management contributing. De Jager will be deputised by Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard.
The De Jager takes over from Burger Odendaal.
Commenting on the side’s leadership group, Human said: “We’ve had some great leaders at Loftus, and often worked with a core group of guys that contributed to the leadership. We are once again spoilt for choice with guys like Burger Odendaal, Hanro Liebenberg, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Brits, Ruan Steenkamp, Travis Ismaiel and Jesse Kriel to mention a few.
“However, Lood has grown into an inspirational leader, even during a time when he didn’t play much rugby, and I am positive that he will have the full support of everybody at Loftus,”
Meanwhile, in terms of the coaching team Loftus legend Anton Leonard steps in as the Line-out specialist.
Leonard played for the Bulls between 2000 and 2008, leading the team with distinction during that period, and was also part of the winning Super Rugby team in 2007. The hard-running No8 also donned the green and gold on two occasions. Leonard started his coaching career at the Griquas in 2010 as a forward’s coach and later moved back to Pretoria to the join the coaching staff at Loftus in 2015.
Pine Pienaar will take up the role as Defence coach. Pienaar is no stranger at Loftus, spending seven years between 2011 and 2017 within the coaching division, working as an assistant coach specialising in defence for all the teams across the Pretoria Union.
Chris Rossouw is the first of the new faces at Loftus that will bolster Human’s support crew. Rossouw, brother of Pieter Rossouw also a former assistant coach at Loftus, brings his expertise as Backline and attack coach. The flyhalf spent the bulk of his playing career at Western Province and the Stormers between 1997 to 2005, before heading abroad to RC Toulonnais for three years.
John-William Meyer retains the role as Head of Technical and Performance Analyst.
While the Director of Rugby will be Alan Zondagh.
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