Bulls lose two more Boks
The Bulls are continuing to leak Springboks and senior players at an alarming rate.
The Blue Bulls Company confirmed the departure of Bok scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and flank Dewald Potgieter.
This follows the recent announcements that other senior players like Zane Kirchner (to Leinster), Juandre Kruger (Racing Metro), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier), Jacques Potgieter (Japan for six months and then Saracens), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Toulouse), Wilhelm Steenkamp (Western Force) and Morné Steyn (Stade Francais) will not stay in Pretoria beyond this year.
Potgieter decided not to renew his contract which expires at the end of the current Super Rugby competition and instead will join the Yamaha Rugby Club in Japan, whilst Vermaak has asked to be released from his contract to join Toulouse in France.
Vermaak's request to leave after the completion of the Super Rugby tournament will be discussed by the Blue Bulls Company, as his contract only expires at the end of October 2013.
According to Xander Janse van Rensburg, the BBC High Performance Manager, Potgieter, who played in 58 Currie Cup, 63 Super Rugby matches and represented South Africa in six tests and two tour matches, decided to rather go overseas to experience a different lifestyle and culture.
"We had numerous talks with Jano and at one stage it looked successful, but he finally decided to accept the Toulouse offer," Janse van Rensburg said.
"We are very sad to lose these two players, as they have massive experience and are part of our leadership core, but one cannot compete with the exchange rate at the moment," Janse van Rensburg said.
* Meanwhile a number of the most promising players in South Africa, as well as four senior Bulls players renewed their contracts with the Blue Bulls Company.
Current Springbok squad members Arno Botha and JJ Engelbrecht signed on till 2016, Louis Fouché, Hencus van Wyk, Jono Ross, Basil Short and Deon Stegmann till 2015 and Handré Pollard till 2017.
A number of players currently playing for the Junior Springboks in France has also penned extensions.
Flank Roelof Smit, prop Andrew Beerwinkel and lock Jannes Kirsten signed on till 2015, while current Junior Boks captain, Ruan Steenkamp, signed on till 2014.
According to Janse van Rensburg talks are on-going to sign flank Jacques du Plessis, who is currently contracted till 2014, for another couple of years.
"It is great to see the vote of confidence in the company and our structures and teams by so many leading players," Janse van Rensburg said.
Engelbrecht indicated that enjoyment as well as the drive to win tournaments made his decision an easy one.
"I am very happy in Pretoria, where a great work ethic and professional outlook is paramount. I feel I have developed so much as a player since joining the Bulls and want to keep on improving, something I know will happen here. The coaches here are brilliant and one can really develop as a player and as a person," Engelbrecht said.
