The midfielder returns to his old stomping ground after a successful stint at Montpellier, where he had over 147 appearances for the club.

He helped the side win their maiden Top 14 title as well as the Challenge Cup during that time and returns to Pretoria, signing a three-year deal with the Bulls, whom he left in 2018.

The Bulls officially confirmed the arrival of the 48-Test cap Springbok centre on Tuesday, 8 July, as he joins Handre Pollard in returning to Loftus Versveld ahead of the 2025/26 season.

He is expected to be joined by Stormers’ scrum-half Paul de Wet and one-cap Springbok forward Nico Janse van Rensburg.

It is further reported that the Pretoria-based franchise have signed Springbok lock Marvin Orie from French club Perpignan while the likes of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Henry Immelman return to the club after short-term spells in Japan and at the Sharks, respectively.

Planet Rugby understands that prop Simphiwe Matanzima, meanwhile, will be joining the Sharks while Bernard van der Linde is off to Premiership club Bath.

Head coach search

Meanwhile, the Bulls are in the hunt for a new director of rugby, with a report of the weekend stating that a four-man shortlist has been drawn up.

Headlining the list is former Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber, with the Bulls making contact to gauge his interest, while it is understood that Bath boss Johann van Graan, ex-Lions coach Johan Ackermann and current Glasgow Warriors honcho Franco Smith are also on the wishlist.