Boshoff and Venter bolster the Bulls after defeats cause a slide
IN A desperate last-ditch effort to avert another disastrous campaign in the Currie Cup, the Blue Bulls have moved swiftly to sign former Springbok flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff and rising Golden Lions and former SA Schools flank Jano Venter.
The arrival of the duo at Loftus Versfeld coincides with that of Springbok Sevens star Tim Agaba, who has finally joined the Bulls after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the Blitzboks’ world-conquering season this year.
While towering loose forward Agaba won’t be available for selection for the Bulls clash against the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday at Loftus as he is in the final stage of his rehabilitation, inside sources have confirmed that Venter could make his debut for the men in blue then.
The 23-year-old e-Malahleni-born Venter is likely to come in as a replacement for the injured Jannes Kirsten at number seven as the Bulls look to arrest their twomatch losing run that has seen them drop from second place to fourth.
Boshoff, who began his junior rugby at the Bulls, has been released from his contract with Irish club Connacht after the recent death of his father and will be available to play with immediate effect.
The arrival of Boshoff will help bolster the depleted stocks of the Bulls at flyhalf, with Tian Schoeman having left for France at the end of Super Rugby while Handre Pollard is on national duty and Joshua Stander is set to leave for WP at the end of the season.
While the 28-year-old Boshoff did not play Super Rugby for the Bulls, the former Hoerskool Nelspruit utility back did make 24 appearances in the Currie Cup before crossing the Jukskei River to represent the Lions and ultimately earn his one Springbok cap in 2014.
Bulls coach Nollis Marais will undoubtedly be in a rush to include his new recruits to help turn around his team’s fortunes in the domestic competition and this will be given a further shot in the arm with the presence of prop Lizo Gqoboka and fullback Warrick Gelant who have been released from the Springbok squad.
While Marais has been reluctant to utilise the services of his Springbok players, he will feel that he has little choice but to call on Gqoboka to strengthen his front row and the sizzling Gelant.
New contracts
Marnitz Boshoff (Connacht; flyhalf/fullback) till 2019; Jano Venter (Xerox Golden Lions; no8, flank) till 2019; Tim Agaba (Springbok Sevens, no 8, loose forward) 2019.