The career of Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard will go full circle with the revelation that he has apparently signed for the Bulls.
According to a News24 report on Friday, Pollard this week put pen to paper with the union where it all started for him in senior rugby, having come through school at Paarl Gim in the Western Cape.
This ends months of speculation around where the celebrated flyhalf would go after he finishes up with Leicester, the English Premiership club he joined in 2022.
Pollard is hot property after playing a major role in the Boks defending their World Cup title in 2023 after their 2019 triumph, and at age 30, he still has plenty of rugby in him.
He is just the player the Bulls need because they have struggled with a flyhalf issue for some time. They recently turned to 35-year-old fullback Willie le Roux to do a job in the position.
Former Bok Johan Goosen has been injury-prone at the Bulls, and back-up 10s Boeta Chamberlain and Jaco van der Walt have been iffy at best.
Pollard, born in Somerset West and schooled at Paarl Gimnasium, left the Cape for Pretoria as a teenager and played for the Bulls from 2013 to 2019.
His first port of call post the Bulls was the Osaka Red Hurricanes in Japan, and then a stint at Montpellier in France followed before his move to England.
Pollard has been the flyhalf general in the Boks’ back-to-back World Cup wins under Rassie Erasmus, and the latter will be delighted that Pollard has come home.
According to the News24 report, Bulls owners Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe have spent serious cash – between R15 and R20 million – to lure Pollard home after up to 10 clubs across the globe were reportedly bidding for his services.
The Bulls have not confirmed nor denied that Pollard is on his way.
Bulls communication officer Lunga Kupiso said on Friday: “We can’t comment on the reports at the moment.
“As is our policy with any signings at the Bulls – if and when they occur – we will release a statement at the appropriate time.”
Bulls director of rugby Jake White has cut a frustrated figure at times about the flyhalf situation, especially when Goosen has been injured.
Now his prayers have seemingly been answered with the imminent arrival of Pollard next season, and he will hope that the Bok star can propel the Bulls to new heights and trophies in the Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship.