Bulls recruit three promising young stars
The Bulls last week announced the names of three emerging young players, all three of whom are on their way to Loftus Versfeld to continue their careers in Pretoria.
After the 2021/22 rugby season, the Bulls started shopping with a view to the new season that will start later this year.
The names of three talented young players have been confirmed as new recruits at Loftus Versfeld this past week. Wandisile Simelane (centre, Lions), Mihlali Mosi (loose-forward, Cheetahs) and Phumzile Maqondwana (loose forward, Pumas) are the three men who will play their rugby in the light blue jersey of the Bulls for the next few seasons.
* The 24-year-old former SA under-18 and Junior Springbok, Wandisile Simelane, has penned down a two-year deal that will see him remain at Loftus Versfeld until 2024. He was also part of Jacques Nienaber’s bigger Springbok group in 2021 and it should only be a matter of time before this talented young player does pull the Green and Gold over his head.
The versatile Simelane, who is equally deft at centre, fullback and on the wing, will add depth and flavour to the Bulls squad which director of rugby, Jake White, continues to bolster.
Simelane played all of his youth rugby between 2011 and 2019 for the Golden Lions Rugby Union before carving a thrilling senior career for the Lions in the United Rugby Championship, Super Rugby, PRO14 Rainbow Cup and Carling Currie Cup between 2018 and this year.
The gifted former Jeppe High School and twice SA under-20 star is widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in South African rugby.
“It has been widely reported that there has been widespread interest for the services of Wandile Simelane from across the globe. That speaks to the talent and value that he has as a player. We are very happy to have added him to our squad at the Bulls,” said Bulls director of rugby, Jake White.
* Talented loose-forward, Mihlali Mosi, was identified as one of South Africa’s most exciting talents. The 26-year-old Mosi elevated his status as an explosive ball-carrier and physical and a superior rugby brain through his performances for the Toyota Cheetahs.
Mosi has over the years shown his versatility and adeptness both at flank and at No8 since first catching the eye of rugby lovers at Walter Sisulu University in the Varsity Cup before switching allegiance to Nelson Mandela University Madibaz.
Between 2018 and 2019, Mosi also featured for the Border Bulldogs.
The fiery Uitenhage-born loosie was then lured to Bloemfontein in 2021 and was a standout feature in the side’s impressive run in the Carling Currie Cup which saw the side reach the semi-final of the domestic competition.
Following the departure of Arno Botha, Mosi is expected to reinforce the Bulls loose trio department. He has signed with the side for the next three years.
“We have been keeping a close eye on Mihlali Mosi and monitoring his steady and remarkable progress. We are really pleased to have managed to recruit him to the Vodacom Bulls with a three-year contract,” said White.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze
* The 25-year-old Phumzile Maqondwana makes the move to Loftus Versfeld after being a core member of the recently crowned Carling Currie Cup champions, Pumas, where he has made meaningful contributions since 2019.
The former Selborne College pupil has signed for the Bulls for the next two years, where he is expected to have an influence in the United Rugby Championship, the Heineken Champions Cup and the Carling Currie Cup for the men in blue.
Maqondwana first made his mark when he appeared for the University of Free State’s Shimlas in the 2017 Varsity Cup and was eventually named in the “Dream Team” of that year’s competition.
In 2018 he was signed by the Lions before heading to Mbombela to feature for the Airlink Pumas since 2019.
Not only was he a standout performer for the Mpumalanga side, but his leadership qualities also stood out as he captained the side on a number of occasions.
– The signings of Simelane, Mosi and Maqondwana comes on the back of earlier recruitments Sbu Nkosi, Ruan Vermaak and Dylan Smith.
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