Bulls keep their big guns
Flyhalf Handre Pollard, hooker Adriaan Strauss and fullback Jesse Kriel have all put pen-to-paper until October 2019.
Prop Trevor Nyakane has signed until October 2018 while centre Jan Serfontein has committed until October 2017.
All of these Boks have now confirmed their futures with the Bulls and Blue Bulls by signing extensions that will keep them in Pretoria for a considerable time and the young, but experienced combination of Pollard, Serfontein and Kriel in the backline has the potential to be a brutal, attacking and exciting partnership.
"This is a clear indication that frontline players see the Bulls and Blue Bulls as the ideal place to continue and build their already impressive careers," said high performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.
"These players are all expected to be amongst the best in the world in their positions for a number of years still and should play many Test matches for the Springboks while in Bulls colours.
"This is a massive endorsement from them towards our mission statement and drive to be one of the leading teams in the world.
"Not only the Bulls, but South Africa will benefit in having them based in Pretoria.
"We believe the Bulls have the ability to attract and retain the biggest names in South Africa and this is proof of that.
"We have worked very hard over the last couple of months to steady the ship.
"We had to re-invent ourselves in a way and owned up to the fact that this team belongs as much to the fans as to the union and the players in the squad.
"The fact that these players want to stay on to be part of this new drive to make our supporters proud, shows their commitment. They accepted the responsibility to achieve those goals and that makes us very proud and humbled. Exciting times await," Janse van Rensburg added.
Janse van Rensburg also confirmed that current Currie Cup squad members Andre Warner, Dries Swanepoel, Roelof Smit and Irne Herbst have signed on for two more seasons until October 2017.
"All of them have represented South Africa already at various stages of their young careers and it is great to know that we will be able to call on their massive potential and abilities for the next couple of seasons.
"These players hail from our junior structures and constitutes our new generation, we are excited about their futures here"
Four new players from outside the union were also recruited. Freddy Ngoza (Flank, Free State), Entienne Swanepoel (Prop, Western Province), Lihleli Xoli (Utility Back, Western Province) and Le Roux Roets (Lock, Golden Lions) have signed contracts till October 2017.
"It is great to have these players around for the next couple of years. Someone like Roets was schooled at Garsfontein and then snapped up by the Golden Lions, but we are very happy to see him back in blue.
"Lihleli, Freddy and Entienne are all players we have been following closely for the last couple of seasons and we are excited to see their careers hopefully excel in Pretoria" Janse van Rensburg said.
