Lock Nortje signs long-term contract extension with Bulls

Lock Ruan Nortje has signed a long-term contract extension with the Bulls.

The 23-year-old former Junior Springbok has penned a three-year deal which will see him ply his trade at Loftus Versfeld until 2025.

Nortje, who stands 2.00m in his socks, has been on the Bulls' books since playing Craven Week for the union in 2016.

"We cannot express fully how excited we are to have a player of Ruan Nortje's calibre showing his commitment to the Bulls by extending his stay at the franchise on a long-term basis," Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, said in a statement.

"Ruan forms an important part of the Bulls future, and we have no doubt that he has what it takes to play at the very highest level. We are looking forward to his contribution in the blue jersey for the next three years."

Ruan Nortje is locked in for three more years ????The hard working Lock has just signed a three-year contract extension with the Vodacom Bulls ?? pic.twitter.com/ogsME9UvBV

Nortje is also in the Bulls starting XV for Saturday's URC clash against Welsh side Dragons at Loftus.

Kick-off is at 19:15.

15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Cornal Hendricks