The Bulls have secured the long-term futures of Springbok hardman Marco van Staden and "generational talent" Mpilo Gumede. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: backpagepix
The Bulls have extended the contracts of Springbok Marco van Staden and loose-forward Mpilo Gumede, the Pretoria-based side revealed on Tuesday.
The news will come as some relief for Bulls fans after it was announced this past week that Bok lock and one of the team’s stalwarts, Ruan Nortje, would be departing the union at the end of the United Rugby Championship (URC) for a lucrative contract in Japan.
Double Rugby World Cup winner "Eskom" Van Staden has committed himself to 2028, while 25-year-old Gumede has extended his contract until 2029.
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone emphasised that these extensions are a cornerstone of the club’s future plans under coach Johan Ackermann.
“There has been some outside noise suggesting we are a selling club, but the reality inside Loftus is very different,” said Rathbone. “Retaining a world-class veteran like Marco and a generational talent like Mpilo is a clear signal of our stability and our ambition.
“We aren’t just building for next week; we are securing the spine of this team for the next two to three years. These men believe in the vision Johan Ackermann is implementing, and we are proud that they see Loftus as the best place to achieve their Springbok and club ambitions.”
The Bulls will be making their way to Wales this week to play in an important URC clash against the Dragons (kick-off 8.45pm) at Rodney Parade in Newport. Currently eighth in the URC standings on 40 points, a positive result against their 15th-placed hosts could, momentarily at least, catapult the Bulls into the Top 5 of the tournament.