Reports this morning indicate that the Bulls are looking at both Victor Matfield and Derick Hougaard to make a return to Super Rugby next year.
SA Rugbymag and Sport24 seem to indicate that this is a done deal, with both players hitting the gym to get back to the fitness levels required to play professional rugby.
victor Matfield retired in 2011 and has had time with SuperSport and with the Bulls as forward and attacking coach, while Hougaard was forced to retire from rugby following a serious Achilles injury. He was with Saracens at the time, but hasn’t played any rugby in at least 2 years.
The Bulls have had a massive player exodus, partly due to the strong Euro and partly due to the fact that they have signed every Springbok schoolboy player, and there simply wasn’t money to pay the experienced players enough.
Whether this is a smart move from the Bulls, or whether it is something that will cost Matfield his ‘legend’ status, remains to be seen. The Bulls desperately need some experience in their line-up, if they are to compete for the Super Rugby trophy, but I cannot help feel that they could have spent their money more wisely.
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I love it! I can’t wait to hear the 3000 Loftus faithful singing ‘Liefling’ at the top of their voices!
😀
This is ridiculous.
That said the Bulls might need them.
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : haha, the bulls are in dire straits at the moment…
I have got to say this, I think their management of players and the manner in which they gave their top players salary cuts to have all these young blokes around has come back to bite them in the arse!
Matfield’s return is probably so that HM can select him in June
Proof that Pretoria is 7 months behind the rest of the world. Today is the 1st November, boys – not 1st April
I just hate it when great players (sorry – that does not include you Derick) try to hang on too long and ends their careers on a bit of a sour note. What can I say when they try and make a comeback after retirement?
@Baylion (Comment 4) : Yea I think the same. I really feel HM is losing the plot right now. I think the boys can learn from him, but surely he doesn’t need to play for them to learn anything from him.
I thought this was an April Fools joke when I read it this morning. Should Matfield start playing again, it will put his coaching career by about 3-4 years. Derick might still be able to make a comeback, just look at Juan Smith, but won’t it be better for them to entrust Jantjies and that boy flyhalf that is supposed to be the next big thing?
@KingRiaan (Comment 8) : Don’t be surprised if you see Hougaard at no10 for the boks in June…. 🙁
No Victor, you retired on your own terms why do this to yourself? Juan Smiths’ case is different, how is he doing by the way?
This must make Heyneke Meyer very happy!
@Letgo (Comment 11) : SARU already negotiating with a supplier about the supply of zimmer frames to “senior” Bok players
This is going to end up like Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1..
IRB Reguslation “21.12.3 A Player who has given notice of retirement to the Board and subject to Regulation 21.12.4, may not resume competing unless he notifies the Board at least six months before he expects to return to competition at International Match level and is available for No Advance Notice Out of Competition Testing at any time during the period before actual return to competition.”
HM couldn’t select Matfield for the EOYT but wants him ready for June
HM will do anything to make Matfield the most capped Bok ever. 👿
@Bokhoring (Comment 5) : Well played sir!
The Bulls can do whatever they like. But if he’s selected for the boks, then I just might consider supporting the All Blacks ;( Next year Lood De Jager, Paul Willemse and PSDT will be in their second year of SR…. We may be short on experience, but certainly not talent. Imagine if JW had brought back Andrews and Otto in 2004, then Victor and Bakkies would never have had the time to develop into arguably the greatest lock-pairing in history. As I said, if it works for the Bulls, fine, but I don’t want him anywhere near the bok side!
Hahahahahahaha , Amateurs night out , I’ve never ever,hahahaha
@vanmartin (Comment 16) : Of course the okes in Pretoria could argue that they like to get their April fool jokes in early – so this one could be for next year. Just about the time when they realize what a joke this idea really is.
Yes! yes! yes!Bulls team looks allready better. Got to say it, its boring without a strong bulls team. Just having sharks and stormers to take on nz teams…..not on! We all know strms don’t have BMT…..come to think of it, neither does……
I cant see this happening. Matfield is past it now no matter how much he gyms. Just look how far off the pace Schalk was when he returned. And i truly hope Schalk gets up to speed but he is younger than Matfield! Hougaard had a serious injury and he is also no youngster. The Bulls bought every youngster in the country they must now use them.
@Bokhoring (Comment 19) : Nothing gets in early behind the Boerewors Gordyn 😉
@SheldonK (Comment 21) : “The Bulls bought every youngster in the country they must now use them.”
Couldn’t agree more. This line of thinking, after contracting so many youngsters just makes no sense at all. Hopefully it will at least discourage some future youngsters from signing.
I Think the next great lock pairing is going to be Etsebeth and PSDT if thats a big if HM wakes up and sees it
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 13) : yip. Could go from Lennox Lewis to Fransie Botha pretty quickly. I reckon HM will pick him regardless
I LOVE it (though probably not for reasons the Bulls would approve of)
Believe it.
Dan Retief on twitter: Just checked – there’s no truth in the rumour that the Bulls have signed Naas Botha to replace Morne Steyn!
Speaking about youngsters, any truth to the rumor that the Sharks signed Timo Swiel?
@Bokhoring (Comment 28) : Funnily enough I heard the same thing but wrote it off as rumour. Probably wise to wait on official confirmation though.
@Bokhoring (Comment 28) : I highly doubt that. Swiel should be playing Super rugby for Stormers next year. He is their most complete 10. Would push Catrakilis hard for a place.
I’m just waiting for some big wings to start coming through in sa….any day now/any year now! That said bulls sign a nice big wing from outeniqua school….1.93m and 96kg…[But he’s white, so will prob move to senter?!]
@Morné (Comment 26) : 😯
Habana and JPP were lekker big and strong, with enough speed and skill. Would not look out of place in a world 15 team. But is kolby really all we have to look forward too???
@Morné (Comment 26) : Just for the Bulls or Bulls and Boks?
@SheldonK (Comment 30) : Do you know whether he was he used in the senior CC team this year? Would be strange (barring injury) for AC to thrust him straight into his SR squad if he never used him at CC level. Then again, AC does a lot of strange things…
@vanmartin (Comment 35) : As far as I know the most was he was included on the bench once but think he was then withdrawn last minute. I agree it would eb a big jump but in my opinion he offers more than Coleman or Van Aswegan. If they going to let Swiel go it would be a mistake. But to be honest i think swiel will go either overseas or to 7s in next couple years
I am back flippie is back..
@Flippie.Bot (Comment 37) : how you doing you undecended testicle 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 34) :
You think Matfield will make a comeback just for the Bulls? I believe his sights are set much higher. Read Brenden Nel’s full article on SS
@Morné (Comment 39) : That is what we are afraid of.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Bulls intent on trying to live in the past
Wonder if JP Nel, Danie Rossouw and Uli Schmidt also got contracts?
@Flippie.Bot (Comment 37) : Why on earth when the team you claim to support humiliated you this season?
Something actually striked me now while trying to get over Mat returning. I know he used to be a awesome player, but my feeling is he is doing himself injustice to try and make a comeback. Fair enough his body has had a pretty long extended break and that’s good for him. But just looking back to the 2011 WC for me he was still a good player. BUT, he was nothing compared to what he used to be then already. His games in the WC felt like he was actually dragging his feet around on the pitch. Bow for the Boks sake I really hope that he doesn’t get picked if he plays like that if he does get picked, the bright side to this is he could make a similar impact as Bobby Skinstad did for us in the 2007 WC, by playing the smaller nations and helping the younger guys out and guiding them and being in more of a supportive role.
I can’t see this anything other than temporary – like with Anton Leonard a couple of years ago. I think it’s simple. At flyhalf the Bulls best chance of success is with a 19 year old – at Super rugby level?
All the number 5 locks stock at the Bulls have issues as well, so why not?
This is truly their best chance other than buying players outside the country.
Springbok material? I would be surprised if Meyer does pick them. Think they’ll retire again after the Super comp. That is if Hougaard’s achilles holds.
@vanmartin (Comment 43) : I am not here for any trouble hey, only here to make peace, and last I checked when I gave my predictions like last week when sharks won I sed Wp with 50± soo everytime I say sharks going to lose they won soo don’t know why you are so grumpy hey? Just asking
WoooHooo, Sharks win Currie Cup, Big Vic is back (should be fun) and to top it all I got tickets for Bruce Springsteen in Cape Town. Man am I amped.
@Flippie.Bot (Comment 46) : It’s simple really, fair-weather fans make me grumpy.
@KingsArmy (Comment 31) :
They have Travis Ismael (21) – 1.9m, 90kgs. Hope he gets a run next year….
Oh hell this will have the Keo Stormer bloggers crying like mad
EWNrugby Talented WP Rugby Under 20 flyhalf Tim Swiel accepts an offer to join The Sharks.
@sharks_lover (Comment 50) : I like the looks of Swiel but don’t know if it’s a good thing for the Sharks to have three 20odd year old flyhalves, unless Swiel can play 15?!?!?!
@JD (Comment 51) : Swiel played wing & fullback during the Vodacom Cup with WP preferring Kurt Coleman at flyhalf
Yes I forgot about Travis Ismael…..reminds me a lot of JP. Saw ismael in bok u/20, was not bad!
@KingsArmy (Comment 33) : dont forget about seargal petersen.
LOL Shuffling around the Deck Chairs of the titanic . .