Bulls welcome Jannes Kirsten's return: 'He will be invaluable to us'

The Bulls announced the return of Pretoria-based lock and backrower Jannes Kirsten, who will join the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Champions Cup side from July.

Kirsten was part of the core group that helped English club Exeter Chiefs to claim the historic double, winning both the Gallagher Premiership and Champions Cup during the 2019/2020 season.

The 29-year-old forward will join the Bulls from 1 July with his initial stay set until June 2026.

Kirsten - a former South African Under-20s international - is no stranger to Loftus, having made his mark playing for the Bulls, both in Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.

He is the younger brother of Frik Kirsten, a prop who made 81 appearances for the club between 2008 and 2014.

Since moving to England in 2019, the lock/back-rower has made a mammoth 75 appearances for his current side, the Exeter Chiefs.

Blue chief executive officer, Edgar Rathbone said the news of Kirsten joining the herd is good for South African rugby and not just the Bulls.

"We know Jannes very well and understand the impact he can have. We appreciate that he has gone on to play in Europe, in different conditions against some of the best rugby stars in that part of the world, so the experience he returns with will be invaluable to us," said Rathbone.

"He knows Pretoria very well and having him return means that he sees us as the place he can call home and so we are really glad to see him return to be united with his family.

"The introduction of South African teams in European competition has meant that now more than the years before, we are seeing a few more locally produced quality players looking to make a return because they still have the opportunity to compete against some of the best in the Northern