The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd on Monday confirmed reports that Bulls assistant coach Pieter (Slapchips) Rossouw’s contract terminates at the end of the current season.

Rossouw, who has served as assistant coach since 2008, will be pursuing business interests elsewhere.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said that Rossouw was of great value to the Bulls and Blue Bulls over many years, with a big number of players graduation to international stars under his tutelage.

“Pieter has played a valuable role in shaping our backline play and general ability on attack. The trophies and tournaments we have won with him on board and the number of tries we have scored speaks for itself and will always be a great testimony of his contribution to the Vodacom Bulls cause. We thank him for that. I know that Pieter will be successful in future endeavours as well.”

Blue Bulls Company CEO Barend van Graan confirmed that the process of appointing a successor has already started. “We have a number of candidates that we are looking at and will make the necessary announcements when contracts are in place, no further comments will be made until such a time.”