Bulls start their charge
The Bulls started their Super Rugby pre-season preparations with two of their newest recruits already in the mix.
Amongst the new faces are Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl, who joined the Bulls from the Free State Cheetahs, and BlitzBok (Sevens) player Ryan Nell, who joined the squad from Maties and Western Province.
The Bulls announced their wider training squad ahead of the 2014 Super Rugby season.
The squad is already busy with preparations at Loftus Versfeld.
With a number of players currently involved with the Springboks, Springbok Sevens and others busy with rehabilitation, the full squad is only expected to train together once they assemble again in January.
A number of players from the victorious Blue Bulls Under-19 squad have also been invited to train with the squad, along with a dozen or so of players who represented the Junior Springboks in the last two seasons.
Bulls squad:
Backs: Jurgen Visser, Jesse Kriel, Akona Ndungane, Ryan Nell, William Small-Smith, Waylon Murray, Ulrich Beyers, Burger Odendaal, Bjorn Basson, Clayton Blommetjies, Handrè Pollard, Tony Jantjies, Tiaan Schoeman, Daniel Kriel, Dries Swanepoel, Lohan Jacobs, Rudi van Rooyen, Piet van Zyl, Rudy Paige.
Forwards: Jono Ross, Jacques Engelbrecht, Chris Massyn, Wiaan Liebenberg, Grant Hattingh, David Bulbring, Paul Willemse, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Schalk van Heerden, Jacques du Plessis, Frik Kirsten, Werner Kruger, Dean Greyling, Marcell van der Merwe, Juan Schoeman, Hencus van Wyk, Basil Short, Bongi Mbonambi, Bandise Maku, Jaco Visagie.
Injured Players (rehabilitation): Travis Ismaiel, Duncan Matthews, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Louis Fouchè, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Roelof Smit, Marvin Orie, Callie Visagie, Mornè Mellett.
Players currently with Springboks and Springbok Sevens teams: JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Flip van der Merwe, Sampie Mastriet, Nardus van der Walt.
