Bulls emptying the Tank
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd on Wednesday confirmed the re-signing of Springbok loose forward Jacques Potgieter.
The 30-year old loose forward – who signed a two-year deal with the BBC – is the second burly loose forward that recently signed with the Bulls after having joined the Sharks at the start of the season.
Like Renaldo Bothma, who arrived in Pretoria a couple of weeks ago, Potgieter has been sidelined all season with injury and has not featured in a single game for the Sharks.
However, he has recovered sufficiently and has already started training with the Bulls.
Potgieter has played for the Bulls in 2012 and 2013, before two seasons with the Waratahs in Sydney.
According to the BBC's High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg, the flank will be available for selection next month.
"Jacques is two weeks away from returning to the field and is doing his final rehabilitation," Janse van Rensburg said
.
"It is great to have him back in the Bulls family.
"He brings massive energy, physicality and go forward to the team and is versatile, so can cover loose trio and lock. It is also pleasing to know that top class players still see the Bulls as a preferred team to express their talents.
"We are building a team and Jacques is part of that plan," Janse van Rensburg added.
Potgieter was pleased to be back at Loftus Versfeld.
"I got my break into Super Rugby here at the Bulls and earned my Springbok caps as a Bulls player," Potgieter said.
"That is something I will never forget and is keen to get back to that form and repay the faith the Bulls has put in me as a player.
"There is something special about the Bulls and I immediately felt at home. Now I can't wait to go out there and play for the team again," he added.
Sharks Chief Executive Officer John Smit wished Potgieter well.
"Injuries have unfortunately curtailed Jacques Super Rugby endeavours in 2016, which has prevented him from featuring for the Sharks," Smit said.
"This move to Gauteng will provide greater opportunities for him and his fiancee, who are set to tie the knot shortly.
"We would like to take this opportunity to wish Jacques the very best for this new chapter he is pursuing."
* Meanwhile the BBC also confirmed that another loose forward, Nic de Jager, has signed an extension till the end of October 2017.
"We have also signed Jacobie Adriaanse till October 2018," Janse van Rensburg said.
"Jacobie will join us from August this year."
Adriaanse played Super Rugby for the Lions and currently for the Southern Kings, following a stint overseas where he played European Cup rugby for the Scarlets in Wales.
"Quality tight heads are in high demand and we are pretty pleased to get someone with the experience and quality of Jacobie to join us," Janse van Rensburg said.
Picture: Steve Haag
