Bulls beat Lions in Lood race

The SA Rugby Player of the Year for 2015 is currently playing his trade in Bloemfontein, where he has played in 40 matches for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby tournament thus far. The 23-year-old also has 20 test matches for the Springboks to his credit.

It was reported that De Jager was weighing up his options between the Lions and Bulls as he wanted to join a franchise capable of winning trophies.

BBC High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg expressed his delight with the signing.

"This is great news for us, not only because Lood is one of the best locks in the world, but also the fact that he sees the Bulls as a team that will enhance his career and ambitions. This is a compliment to what we are trying to achieve and a massive boost to our vision to build something special again in Pretoria," Janse van Rensburg said.

De Jager said he was keen to join the Bulls, but still has unfinished business in Bloemfontein. 

"I am pretty excited about my future with the Bulls and what they want to achieve in future. That said, I am still committed to the Cheetahs till the end of the season and will give my all in playing for them. They have been instrumental in the way my career developed and I want to thank them in the best way possible - by giving my all every time I take to the field for the Cheetahs.

"Free State Rugby really ment a lot for me in my rugby career. They gave me a chance when I came from nowhere. I didn't play Craven Week. I only played for Pukke and the Leopards. At the end of 2012 they gave me the opportunity to train with the Super Rugby group when I was a nobody.

"I also learned a lot from the two coaches, Naka Drotske and Franco Smith. They each had a different approached but I have a lot of respect for both of them. I think that they both did and are doing well in their situations and I have a lot of respect for them on and from the field.  

"I would like to thank Harold Verster, the Managing Director and the Director of Rugby, Rory Duncan for always being good to me.”