Victor Matfield, one of the most decorated players in the history of South African rugby, will make his return to the playing field for the Vodacom Bulls in Vodacom Super, the Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd confirmed on Friday.
Matfield is a former Springbok captain with 110 Test caps behind his name – only John Smit, with 111 caps, has played more Tests for South Africa. He also lead the Vodacom Bulls to all three their Vodacom Super Rugby titles, in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
The Blue Bulls Company have offered Matfield a contract for 2014 and 2015, which he has gladly accepted as he still harbours dreams of representing the Springboks.
The BBC have also been pro-active in securing Matfield’s signature as coach for 2016 and 2017 – a deal he agreed to after he was granted permission to return to the playing field after being part of the union’s coaching structures in 2013.
“To have someone with Victor’s experience available for selection, as well as his expertise on the training field, is a win-win situation for us,” said Frans Ludeke.
“He will not only add value as a senior player on the field, but will also continue to mentor younger players with his vast experience of rugby at all levels. Victor has been a superb servant of Springbok and Bulls rugby and he has shown on the training field in the last couple of months that he is still hungry to succeed at the top levels of the game.”
Matfield will make his return to the field during Saturday’s match between the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers in Polokwane. He will play off the bench.
Welcome back Mr Matfield. Not so sure if the timing of this all is such a good thing on a personal level for him, but I guess if he was involved in a coaching capacity he would have been travelling away with the team anyway. As a player his time will be managed so may have more off time in the Super rugby period, but then again if he could be away longer if he performs well enough for national honours again…
There may be a lot of gnashing of teeth at this announcement by some folk from the coastal unions
2 @ Bullscot:
Well, they can gnash all they want, specially when he steals their lineout ball… hahaha
@ grootblousmile:
He will be using his kierie to steal their balls.
4 @ Lion4ever:
No, he’s used his kierie to make more children… hehehe
He’s only 36, for goodness sakes, he needs to call me Oom GBS!
Johan Ackermann was 38 when he played for the Springboks.
Excellent news. Would love to see him on the field again.
Just to have him in the side, will put that extra little doubt in the other team’s lineout jumpers and hookers.
Beware the jealousy now.
6 @ Blue Traveller:
I said elsewhere, there are now only 2 Bulls over 30 in the Bulls squad, Oupa Akona Ndungane (31) and Big Vic (36).
With so many experienced players having departed from the Bulls after Super Rugby 2013, the Bulls need a few older heads to guide the youngsters.
@ grootblousmile:
It’s amazing that we can put forth a competing side. I checked the other day – almost 40 players since the 2011 world cup which left the Bulls.
We need all the experience we can get our hands on. Last year’s currie cup proved that.
@ grootblousmile:
Ja, swear!! Look it will be good if can play well. But will his body stand up to the rigours of rugby after 2 years out of the game?
8 @ Blue Traveller:
Yip, I agree.
I do not have a hell of a lot of faith in the Bulls Contracting oke, young Xander Janse van Rensburg.
He apparently studied Law, but never practiced Law… so my question is what does he really know about the pit-falls of contracts and the implications of the documents he is esponsible for?
Being a youngster himself, he seems to be instigating contracting the world’s youngsters at the Blue Bulls and offering the older chaps kak contracts and salaries.
Ian Schwartz did such a stirling job before he left as part of Heyneke Meyer’s crew at the Bokke!
Ai, die voortvarendheid van die jeug….
9 @ Lion4ever:
I suppose we’ll find out soon enough…
@ grootblousmile:
And that’s why the Bulls will struggle for a year or two.
12 @ Lion4ever:
Our Junior sides should kick ass though… hahaha
I must say it is a damn pleasure to be a Bulls supporter, for the last three years we have heard before every season how the bulls will struggle and end near the bottom, and every time the bulls have perform well above expectations.
What an awesome union.
Signing Matfield appears to big a big gamble but it appears that the decision was not taken lightly, hope he can offer some excellent value to the Bulls
Cheetahs have 2 players over 30 and 3 players turning 30 in 2014.
Sharks have 5 players over 30 and 1 player turning 30 in 2014.
Stormers have 4 players over 30 and 2 players turning 30 in 2014.
Lions have 3 players over 30 in their squad.
Bulls have 2 players over 30 in their squad (Matfield included).
Het Kolbe nog daai hofsaak vir dronk bestuur? of was dit uitgegooi?
16 @ MacroBull:
Weetie, Moosa… dink nie daai saak sal sommer net verdwyn nie.
17 @ grootblousmile:
Toema, ek het nou gelees die hofsaak is in augustus en hul wag vir bloed toetse, maar die artiekel is 3 maande oud.
18 @ MacroBull:
Ek verneem dit vat langer en al langer vir die SAPD on forensiese toetse te laat doen en dan die verslae terug te kry na die ondersoekbeamptes toe, sodat sake deur die hof kan rol.
Dis seker maar daaroor dat die saak so lank uitgestel was.
It can’t be much worse than Schalla coming back after a year, and Matfield is a fit bugger, so good luck to him. My only concern would be his form. It seems that so many players coming back from sustained layoffs – admittedly usually medical – really struggle to find their form again in any sport, but lets hope he is the exception to the rule, and even makes a play for that green jersey again!
Scott van Breda scored a last-gasp try to boost the Stormers to a 26-19 win in a warm-up game on Saturday.
The Stormers looked to be in clinical touch early on, with Siya Kolisi crashing over the tryline in the sixth minute after a well executed lineout maul. However, as the game wore on, it was the Bulls who controlled possession and created more scoring chances.
The Bulls were guilty of butchering a few opportunities, which was to be expected in a warm-up game of this nature. But the persistence of the pack eventually paid off, as they went on to score two tries from close range and take a 12-5 lead right before the half-time break.
The Stormers hit back shortly after the restart, with Kolisi’s second try strongly resembling his first. The Stormers’ maul from the lineout proved unstoppable, and with Demetri Catrakilis adding the conversion, the Stormers had drawn level at 12-12.
Victor Matfield made his long-awaited return to rugby when he came off the Bulls bench and replaced Grant Hattingh in the 49th minute. The Springbok legend acquitted himself well, and even managed to steal one of the Stormers’ lineout feeds.
This cameo must have inspired the Bulls to lift their performance, as Arno Botha scored in the 59th minute to move the hosts back into the lead.
But when Francois Hougaard received a yellow card for a professional foul, the Bulls were left shorthanded on defence. The Stormers exploited their advantage almost immediately, with Catrakilis scoring and converting his own try.
Van Breda, one of the Stormers’ new recruits, then scored with just two minutes remaining to secure the victory.
Meanwhile, in the curtain-raiser to this clash, the Lions B side rallied from a 19-7 half-time deficit to beat the Bulls’ second stringers 26-24.
Bulls –Tries: Dean Greyling, Jono Ross. Arno Botha. Conversions: Louis Fouché (2).
Stormers – Tries: Siya Kolisi (2), Demetri Catrakilis, Scott van Breda. Conversions: Catrakilis (3).
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