Bulls confirm arrival of Bok prop in 2023

Tighthead prop Wilco Louw will return to the scene of his youth days, Pretoria, when he arrives at Loftus on a three-year deal, the Bulls confirmed on Wednesday.

Louw, 28, began his career in the Cape Winelands, then developed through the Bulls' youth structures and mastered at the Stormers, where he made more than a century of appearances before opting to ply his trade in Europe in 2020. 

On Sunday, Louw's club, Harlequins confirmed Louw's departure, saying: "Wilco will leave with the best wishes of the Club and we all now look forward to the remaining 8 months of his Harlequins career as we compete in the Premiership and Champions Cup.

"Louw, who joined Harlequins in September 2020, has amassed 49 appearances in the famous Quarters, including scoring a try when helping Harlequins win the Premiership in June 2021 in a memorable 40-38 win over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham stadium."

A report by Sunday publication Rapport intimated at Louw's pending move this past weekend and the Bulls have now confirmed it.

He will join his new team in July 2023.

"It is exciting to be going back to South Africa and to be reunited with the Bulls, I had an unbelievable time at Harlequins with great memories and hopefully we can make some great memories in Pretoria too," said Louw.

"My rugby career started at the Bulls and I think it's every rugby player’s dream to win a few trophies in their career, so I am very keen to join the team and work with great players and coaches to make that dream our reality" concluded Louw.

Bulls president Willem Strauss added: "It is wonderful to have a top international tighthead joining us in the prime of his career. Wilco was part of our junior structures and his return will surely bolster our pack of forwards. We