The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd is pleased to announce that Piet van Zyl has agreed terms and will join the Vodacom Bulls on a two year contract from November 1st, 2013.

The Pretoria-born 23 year old scrumhalf made his Springbok debut in 2013 following some very good performances for his Super Rugby franchise, the Toyota Cheetahs.

Frans Ludeke, Bulls head coach welcomed the news, saying “Piet is an exciting youngster who brings a lot of energy and commitment to the field. His style of play will suit us and I am convinced that he will blossom in our playing style and structure. We have lost one Springbok in Jano Vermaak, so to replace him by another in Piet is fantastic for our depth,” Ludeke said.

BBC High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg confirmed the deal and said “Piet will still play for the Toyota Free State in Currie Cup, but will join us on November 1st on a two year deal till 31 October 2015. We are very pleased to secure his services as he is one of the most promising and exciting young halfbacks in the country.”

At the same time the Blue Bulls Company has had to say good bye to 8 stalwarts, all 8 Springbok players, who now move on to other pastures.

The contracts of the following players have expired and the Blue Bulls Company and Vodacom Bulls management would like to thank them for their services to the BBC and the team.

They will not play in the Absa Currie Cup competition that start next month, but will join their new clubs abroad.

“We would like to wish them well in the next chapter of their new careers,” Blue Bulls Company CEO Barend van Graan said on Tuesday.

“These players all became Springboks at the Vodacom Blue Bulls, which speaks volumes of how much impact they had in our structures and teams.

Many of them also represented us at schoolboy level for the first time and have been true servants to the Vodacom Blue Bulls and Vodacom Bulls cause. We could like to salute their effort and say thank you.”

The departing players are:

• Juandrè Kruger (11 tests, 0 points; 31 Super Rugby caps, 5 points, 40 provincial caps, 40 points) – to Racing Metro, France
• Jacques Potgieter (3 tests, 0 points; 23 Super Rugby caps, 20 points; 28 provincial matches, 45 points) – to Fukuoka Sanix Blues, Japan
• Dewald Potgieter (6 tests, 5 points; 67 Super Rugby caps, 20 points; 58 provincial matches, 50 points) to Yamaha RFC, Japan
• Chiliboy Ralepelle (21 tests, 5 points; 69 Super Rugby caps, 20 points; 26 provincial matches, 20 points), to Toulouse France
• Jano Vermaak (1 test, 0 points; 104 Super Rugby caps, 97 points; 89 provincial matches, 143 points) to Toulouse, France
• Mornè Steyn (45 tests, 530 points; 123 Super Rugby caps, 1449 points; 95 provincial matches, 806 points), to Stade Francais, France
• Zane Kirchner (24 test, 15 points; 82 Super Rugby caps, 105 points; 101 provincial caps 209 points) to Leinster, Ireland
• Wynand Olivier (37 tests, 5 points; 110 Super Rugby caps, 145 points; 72 provincial matches, 130 points), to Montpellier, France