Bulls hand two-year deal to Cheetahs lock Wilhelm Steenkamp – Rugby News
South African Rugby Union (SARU) provincial side Bulls and Super Rugby franchise Blue Bulls have acquired the services of Cheetahs lock, Wilhelm Steenkamp. Officials have confirmed the signing of Steenkamp in a statement released on their website on Wednesday,
July 27.
Steenkamp is not a stranger at Loftus Versfeld Park, the headquarters for the Bulls, as he started his professional senior club career with them before joining the Cheetahs. He termed the lack of playing opportunities in the star studded Bulls side as his
reason for joining the Central Cheetahs side in the start of the 2010 Super Rugby season.
Steenkamp has expressed his delight on signing a new two-year deal with the Bulls. He said, “I am ecstatic to re-join the Bulls in 2012. At the time, I had to leave Pretoria in order to get more playing opportunities.”
Steenkamp is expected to depart from the Cheetahs at the end of their 2011 ABSA Currie Cup campaign. He has expressed his confidence that he’ll work hard to become a regular member of the Bulls side for their 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby seasons.
Steenkamp has also expressed his desire to further improve his skills and develop his abilities alongside the likes of Bulls captain and Springboks vice-captain, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
Steenkamp added that in his earlier stay with the club, we learnt a lot from both locks. However, he needed more time on the field and that’s why he joined Cheetahs. He said, “The Bulls had the most capped lock combination in the world in Bakkies Botha and
Victor Matfield playing for them and although it was great to learn and train with them, I felt that my game needed time on the pitch.”
Steenkamp defended his move to the Cheetahs and termed the decision as “What was needed at the time.”
Steenkamp has thanked the Cheetahs management, coaching staff and players for their support. He added, “I have grown as a player and a person while playing for the Cheetahs and I will never stop appreciating the influence they had on my career. I would like
to thank them for that.”http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=31302&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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