Bulls lure two high profile players to Loftus Versfeld
With the Currie Cup tournament kicking off shortly, the Bulls announced that one of the country's most dangerous "finishers" on the wing and a very promising young fetcher on the flank will report to Loftus Versfeld on July 1.
The Bulls strengthened their ranks ahead of the start of the Currie Cup tournament with a Springbok winger and one of the most promising fetchers in the country.
* Aphiwe Dyantyi has penned a two-year deal with the Bulls, which will see the speedster turn up for the herd until June 2026.
“This feels like a second opportunity. It will be good to be in an environment like the one the Bulls have, almost very familiar considering that I was down the highway during the start of my career,” said the 29-year-old Nkondlo native, which originally made a name for himself at Dale College in King Williams Town.
He added that he spent over 10 years in Gauteng when he was playing for the Lions, so it is familiar territory and this move feels like coming home for him.
“I am closer to family and friends, a support structure that has been so important for me over the years. I hope to enjoy my time with the Loftus family and am thankful for the opportunity Jake (White) and Edgar (Rathbone) have given me,” he concluded.
The utility back is no stranger to the international circuit having impressed back in the 2018 season for Jukskei rivals, the Lions, a season which earned him his Springbok cap where he went on to dot down six tries from thirteen tests on his way to winning the accolade as 2018 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
The Dale College alumni has played at flyhalf, outside centre and wing.
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Kuyenzeka ‘Nama’ Xaba, one of the most promising young fetcher flanks in South Africa, also signed with the Bulls on an initial two-year deal.
Xaba, who is affectionately known as ‘Nama’, slots into the openside flanker role and arrives at the capital to begin his journey with the herd until June 2026.
The former Glenwood High School and University of Cape Town captain arrives in the capital from the Stormers, with whom he has spent much of his junior and senior professional career, making 25 senior appearances for the Cape side.
Xaba boasts an impressive CV, having led his high school both on and off the field, captaining Glenwood High School’s first team in the same year he was the school’s head boy. He finished his matric with five distinctions and has gone on to obtain a BSc in Geomatics at the University he occasionally captained.
He earned his first provincial colours for Kwa-Zulu Natal at under-12 before going on to earn further caps at under-13 Craven Week, under-16 Grant Khomo Week, Academy Week as well as at Craven Week.
“This is a privilege for me to come join the most successful union in South Africa. I am looking forward to a different challenge away from my comfort zone. There is a lot of quality players at the Bulls and I want to play alongside them. I also have a wonderful opportunity to be taught by seasoned coaches and I am looking forward to learning from them,” Xaba said.
He added that he cannot wait to slot into the brand of rugby this franchise plays and he has hopes of doing his bit to help add more silverware to the Loftus trophy cabinet.
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