The stability and positive outlook on the future of the management at Loftus Versfeld could not be better illustrated than the fact that the Blue Bulls Rugby Union’s (BBRU) president, Willem Strauss, was re-elected unopposed late last week to take the reins for another four-year term.

In his first term, Strauss has performed, in some cases, near miracles in the process by which he and his management have put the Bulls on a path of stability and success, after almost a decade of plodder in the corridors and boardrooms of Loftus.

Strauss has no doubt been at the forefront and a catalyst to the change seen and enjoyed across rugby in Pretoria and the Limpopo region. He was instrumental in some major appointments that played a vital role in the turnaround at Loftus, such as that of Director of Rugby Jake White, CEO Edgar Rathbone and Thando Manana, the new head of woman’s rugby and special projects, to mention but a few.

Four years ago, Strauss, committed to aligning the structures and various facets at Loftus, while doing the same at amateur levels. He also promised stability, growth, and excellence on and off the field. It is safe to say, that together with a strong leadership group at the BBCo and BBRU, and many tireless hours, Bulls fans are starting to enjoy the benefits of those commitments.

For a decade prior to his first appointment, the trophy cabinets at Loftus were not exactly bursting at the seams. The Bulls have since won a Super Rugby Unlocked title, two Currie Cup titles and are currently ranked in poll position when it comes to SA u.21, SA u.20, SA u.19, Varsity Cup, Young Guns, the club competition and u.20 club competition. The union has also excelled at growing women’s rugby contributing its largest contingent of female players to the national side ever.

Strauss has done well in boosting the image of club rugby and making it relevant again. Simple programmes like allocating every single professional Bulls player to a club, and then creating a pathway for a club player to be given opportunities at Loftus, has bridged the gap between professionals and amateurs.

Jake White expressed his excitement at the re-appointment.

“Willem has done a great job in aligning the professional arm of our game to that of the amateurs. It’s obviously not an easy task given the differences, but he re-affirmed the common love for the game and the pillars that we want our rugby to be built on. More than that, he has also become a personal friend, and I’m super excited to continue this journey alongside him,” White remarked.

Strauss was also instrumental in the ground-breaking shareholder deal that saw Patrice Motsepe buy into the company, joining Johan Rupert and the BBRU as partners.

Motsepe congratulated Strauss on the appointment.

“We are particularly happy about the re-election of Willem as President of the BBRU for another term.  Not only is this well-deserved, but it also gives the partners at the BBCo the opportunity to keep building on the excellent platform that was created the past few years to promote rugby on all levels,” said Motsepe.

Strauss’s pledge for the upcoming four years reaffirms the work he has already done. He speaks proudly of continuing to grow the game on every level, with special attention to professionalizing women’s rugby, the junior structures, and the clubs. He is also spearheading the revamping of the Northern stand at Loftus Versfeld, together with Abland. Watch this space, as this revamp will undoubtedly give the entire stadium the modern facelift it so requires.

“It’s an absolute honour to be re-elected, and to be unopposed in the process shows me that there are no divides in our camp. It shows me that the people around me back me and believe in our common goals. We are in a good space, but it’s never enough and we need to keep moving forward to get bigger and better, and that’s the only way we can continue to remain one of the leaders in the industry,” Strauss commented.

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