Xander Janse van Rensburg

Reports of a mass exodus from the Vodacom Bulls at the end of the season have been rubbished by the franchise.

According to weekend reports a host of Bulls – which include Pierre Spies, Francois Hougaard, Deon Stegmann, Akona Ndungane and JJ Engelbrecht – will head to Japan after the conclusion of the Super Rugby season.

It was billed as the “biggest exodus” since 2013 – when the Bulls lost 20-odd frontline players, including the likes of Juandré Kruger, Wynand Olivier, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Zane Kirchner, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dewald Potgieter and Jacques­ Potgieter.

However, Xander Janse van Rensburg, the High Performance Manager at the Blue Bulls Company, said that the facts of the reports are far removed from the truth.

“JJ and Grant have Japan clauses in their contracts,” Janse van Rensburg said, adding that the duo will head to Japan after the Super Rugby season, missing the Currie Cup competition, and will then return for Super Rugby 2016.

“For us this has always been a way to retain top players,” the Bulls’ boss said, adding: “They have that financial incentive.

“They are not leaving, they return for Super Rugby next year.”

He also said the “offers” to Pierre Spies and Francois Hougaard are for just 1 Japanese season.

“However, there are many factors that play a role in their decision and nothing is final yet,” he said.

“They are waiting for finality on the Springbok contracts and the World Cup – nothing has been signed or set in stone, it is far from being finalised.”

Janse van Rensburg added that Bulls coach Frans Ludeke and himself have been in discussion with Spies and Hougaard since last year.

In contrast with the report that suggested veteran Bok wing Akona Ndungane is also heading to Japan, the Bulls boss said the 34-year-old is in fact retiring.

“There is no truth in the report that he is heading to Japan,” Janse van Rensburg said.

“Those reports are factually not very accurate,” he said, adding: “Only those 5 senior players’ contracts came up for renewal, the rest have all signed.

“A player like Flip van der Merwe, when he renewed his contract in 2012, already told us he was heading abroad after 2015.

“The only surprise for us was Jacques du Plessis, with the attractive Euro luring him away to Montpellier.”

Janse van Rensburg revealed that they already have a tentative agreement with Du Plessis to return to Pretoria after 20 months with the French club.

“I had a talk with him at the weekend about his contract in 20 months,” he said, adding: The plan is to have him sign the contract to return to Pretoria before he even departs.”

Du Plessis will miss 2 Currie Cup seasons and just 1 Super Rugby season.

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