The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd on Friday expressed their sincere gratitude and thanks to a number of stalwarts who will part ways with the Vodacom Bulls at the completion of the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.

Barend van Graan, CEO of the BBC, confirmed the departures of Pierre Spies, Jacques du Plessis, Flip van der Merwe, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Victor Matfield, Akona Ndungane and Francois Hougaard to French and Japanese clubs and retirement.

Spies (via Japan) and Du Plessis will join French club Montpellier, Van der Merwe moves to Clermont-Avergne and Potgieter to Lyon. Matfield will retire after the Rugby World Cup and Ndungane hangs up his boots this weekend as his contract was only extended for this year’s Super Rugby competition.

Hougaard leaves for Japan later this year and depending on a number of factors, will make a call on whether to return to Loftus Versfeld, at a later stage.

“How does one begin to describe andacknowledge the contributions of these players over all these years,” Van Graan said.

“Victor re-wrote all the record books as player and captain and we have been very privileged to have him continuing as a coach for the past couple of seasons. His input and education on the next generation of players has always been extraordinary.

“Pierre is a 2nd generation Blue Bull and was a massive inspiration to so many supporters. We understand his move to go and play abroad, especially as he missed 2 years of his career with injury.

“Akona became a legend here at Loftus Versfeld with his fearless play and commitment. He was asked to act as a mentor to the younger players in the squad this season and did a superb job.

“All 3 of them are Super Rugby centurions for the Vodacom Bulls and were part of the squads that won the Super Rugby title 3 times.”

Van Graan also said ‘au revoir’ to the French contingent.

“Flip deservedly became an established Springbok while playing for us and represented the Bulls in close to 80 matches. As with Jacques, the realities of the exchange rate and their deserved market value in France made it impossible for us to try and financially compete on our own against those offers.

“Jacques-Louis also came to our rescue at short notice last year and got us back to winning ways. We will never forget that contribution,” Van Graan said.

Van der Merwe and Du Plessis could still play in the ABSA Currie Cup if not being used by the Springboks, as their contracts run till at the end of October.

Spies and Hougaard, who are in the same situation, indicated that they would seek an early release to go to Japan, should they not be called up by the Springboks.

Van Graan also acknowledged the contributions of backline coach Pieter Rossouw and physiotherapist Ronee Eksteen, who both will leave the union. “They have done great work over many years and were part of some very successful squads in that time, a testimony of their abilities and contributions.”

• According to the BBC High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, negotiations with Hougaard is ongoing. “He is going to Canon in Japan, but we are still hoping to see him back here for next year’s Super Rugby tournament. We are working hard at a possible deal and we are hoping that a national contract could aid our cause. He is a sought-after player because of his versatility.”
• Janse van Rensburg confirmed that Jurgen Visser’s contract has not been renewed. “We want to thank Jurgen for his positive and constructive contributions on and off the field.”

Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy (Edms) Bpk het sy dank en waardering uitgespreek aan verskeie staatmakers oor baie jare wat die Vodacom Bulls aan die einde van die huidige Vodacom Super Rugby seisoen verlaat.

Volgens die BBM se hoofbeampte, Barend van Graan, word die vertrek van Pierre Spies, Jacques du Plessis, Flip van der Merwe, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Victor Matfield, Akona Ndungane en Francois Hougaard met groot begrip en waardering deur die BBRU en die BBM aanvaar.

Spies (via Japan) en Du Plessis sluit later vanjaar by die Franse klub Montpellier aan, Van der Merwe gaan vir Clermont-Avergne en Potgieter vir Lyon uitdraf. Matfield tree uit rugby ná die Wêreldbekertoernooi. Ndungane se kontrak is verlede jaar hernieu slegs met die oog op vanjaar se Super Rugby toernooi.

Hougaard gaan in Japan speel en sal binnekort, afhangende van ‘n paar ander faktore, besluit of hy weer terugkeer Loftus Versfeld toe.

“Waar begin ‘n mens om hierdie spelers se bydraes genoeg erkenning te gee,” het Van Graan gesê.

“Victor het die rekordboeke hier byons herskryf as speler en kaptein en ons is geweldig bevoorreg om hom as afrigter te kon behou die afgelope seisoene, hy kon sy kundigheid terug ploeg in die volgende generasie spelers.

“Pierre is ‘n 2de generasie Blou Bul en was ‘n reuse inspirasie vir soveel ondersteuners. Ons verstaan sy besluit om oorsee te gaan speel, veral gegewe die feit dat hy 2 seisoene weens beserings misgeloop het.

“Akona het legendariese status hier bereik met sy vreeslose spel en toewyding. Hy het vanjaar grootliks die rol as mentor vertolk vir die jonger groep spelers en dit skitterend gedoen. Al 3 het meer as 100 keer vir die Vodacom Bulls gespeel en was deel van die spanne wat die Vodacom Super Rugby toernooi 3 keer gewen het.”

Van Graan het ook die ‘Franse brigade’ sterkte toegewens.

“Flip het verdienstelik ‘n Springbok hier by ons geword en byna 80 keer vir die Vodacom Bulls uitgedraf. Soos met Jacques het die realiteite van die wisselkoers en die spelers se markwaarde in Frankryk dit onmoontlik vir ons gemaak om alleen met die aanbiedinge vandaar te kompeteer.

“Jacques-Louis het verlede jaar op kort kennisgewing vir ons uit die moeilikheid kom help en die span weer op die wenpad gekry. Ons sal nie daardie bydrae vergeet nie,” het Van Graan gesê.

Van der Merwe en Du Plessis se kontrakte verval in Oktober 2015, so sal nog vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle uitdraf, sou hulle nie deur die Springbokke opgeroep word nie.

Dieselfde geld vir Spies en Hougaard, maar beide het aangedui dat hulle graag die Japan opsie vroeër wil opneem indien hulle nie vir die Springbokke opgeroep word nie.

Van Graan het ook Pieter Rossouw (agterlyn-afrigter) en Ronee Eksteen (fisioterapeut) bedank vir hulle bydrae tot die span oor baie jare. Albei verlaat die unie. “Hulle was deel van ‘n baie suksesvolle bestuurspan en sal gemis word. Ek wil hulle graag bedank vir die puik insette oor baie jare.”

• Volgens die BBM se Hoë Prestasiebestuurder, Xander Janse van Rensburg, is gesprekke met Hougaard steeds aan die gang. “Hy gaan wel vir Canon in Japan speel, maar het nog nie finaal laat weet of hy volgende seisoen vir die Vodacom Bulls beskikbaar gaan wees nie. Ons werk hard daaraan om hom te behou en hopelik kan ‘n nasionale kontrak tot ons redding kom om die aanbod te verbeter. Hy word oral hoog aangeslaan weens sy veelsydigheid,” het hy gesê.
• Janse van Rensburg het bevestig dat Jurgen Visser se kontrak met die BBM nie hernu is nie. “Ons wil Jurgen bedank vir sy bydrae. Hy het op en ván die veld ‘n positiewe bydrae tot die unie gelewer.”