Bismarck du Plessis

Montpellier’s South African hooker Bismarck Du Plessis scores a try during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Montpellier and Castres on March 24, 2018 in Montpellier, southern France. / AFP PHOTO / SYLVAIN THOMAS (Photo credit should read SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Bismarck du Plessis and Jake White to reunite at the Bulls

The Bulls have announced the signing of experienced Springbok hooker and Rugby World Cup winner Bismarck du Plessis.

Bismarck du Plessis

Montpellier’s South African hooker Bismarck Du Plessis scores a try during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Montpellier and Castres on March 24, 2018 in Montpellier, southern France. / AFP PHOTO / SYLVAIN THOMAS (Photo credit should read SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Bulls have announced the signing of experienced Springbok hooker and Rugby World Cup winner Bismarck du Plessis. 

Du Plessis, who has a total of 79 tests to his name, will join the Tshwane-based side following a six-year stint at French club Montpellier. 

Bismarck du Plessis signs for the Bulls

The former Sharks number two has worked with Jake White on three previous stints, first winning the Rugby World Cup in 2007, then linking up in Durban, before their rendezvous at Montpellier.

The 37-year-old’s road to Loftus Versfeld began in his home province, Free State, where he represented the Cheetahs in 2003 before moving to the coast to join the Sharks, where he spent the next decade from 2005. It was in 2015 that his tenure at Montpellier began. 

Bismarck du Plessis
SAINT DENIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 14: Bismarck du Plessis of South Africa is challenged by Perry Freshwater of England during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France on September 14, 2007 in Saint Denis, France. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

This capture puts one in mind of the Bulls signing of Schalk Brits in 2018. On that occasion, the veteran proved inspirational both in matches and around the training park. Brits even went on to earn a Springbok recall.

White made it clear that he sees Du Plessis as a potential mentor to the exciting collection of hookers he has at his disposal. 

“We are really pleased to have secured Bismarck’s signature,” said Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White. 

“Bismarck is the calibre of player we want here at Loftus – somebody who has a lot to offer on the field of play, and also vast experience that he can impart on the youngsters. There is no doubt that guys like Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Joe van Zyl, Johan Grobbelaar and Schalk Erasmus will gain plenty from his presence.”

With the high rates of attrition in modern front rows, this signing can only be seen as a massive boost to both the Bulls and South African rugby as a whole.

Du Plessis brings valuable experience of playing in Europe ahead of the Bulls maiden campaign in the United Rugby Championship, which gets underway later this month.

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