Goosen is Bulls’ biggest investment on the way to new dispensation
While the Bulls' management is currently getting their squad ready for the challenges of the new season ahead, there was particularly good news last week about the contract extension of probably the most important player in the Bulls squad for the next few seasons.
It’s something South African rugby fans have yet to get used to, but the country’s provincial franchises are currently in their off-season.
The new United Rugby Championship (URC) season will start soon during the South African spring. Of course, in the past this was the time when South Africans were used to getting ready for the conclusion of the domestic season.
After the confusion of the past few seasons since Covid messed up our long-standing routine and habits and changed the entire rugby environment, South African rugby fans will be exposed to the future in its full reality for the first time in the new 2022/2023 season.
While the four big franchises, the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions will once again be involved in the URC, the former three will also participate in the Heineken Champions Cup, while the Lions and the Cheetahs will be part of the EPCR Challenge Cup. With this new dispensation, the best of South Africa’s four top provincial teams will not only be tested in the tough URC – in which Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian teams participate – but the top five provincial teams (Cheetahs included) will also compete in Europe’s two proud “umbrella” tournaments, where the best of England and France are also added.
Against this background, it becomes clear even to the less informed rugby enthusiasts that a very strong squad with world-class players in most key positions is a must for the South African franchises if they want to be successful at all.
That’s why the news the Bulls announced last week about Johan Goosen was so important.
To be at all competitive at the level at which tournaments such as the URC and Heineken Champions Cup are played, no team without a truly top-class flyhalf can hope to be successful.
The Bulls announced last week that experienced Springbok flyhalf, Johan Goosen, will remain at Loftus Versfeld for another four years. The 29-year-old talented pivot has penned down a contract extension with the Pretoria-based side which will see him remain with them until 2026.
A fit Goosen is world class and can join the Springbok team any day if Handré Pollard is injured.
Chris Smith has been with the Bulls for a few seasons now and could add a lot of value, while younger men like FC du Plessis and Juan Mostert are developing. But with a truly world-class flyhalf like Goosen in his ranks, Jake White can confidently plan to build on last season’s success in the URC.
Meanwhile, Morné Steyn will also still be part of the group next season and it can be assumed that his biggest role will probably be the guidance he can give to these younger men in their growth process.
Goosen’s contract extension comes on the back of renewals for Cornal Hendricks (2024), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (2024), Ruan Nortje (2025), Keagan Johannes (2026), Mornay Smith (2026) and Elrigh Louw (2027).
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