'Joining in the prime of his career': Bulls celebrate Louw signing

Jake White’s big-name recruitment at the Bulls continued on Wednesday with the Pretoria-based URC franchise confirming the signing of Wilco Louw from Harlequins, the 2021 Gallagher Premiership champions. The 28-year-old has been linked in recent weeks with a return to the club where he came through the youth structures before switching to the Stormers.

Now it has come to pass, the tighthead with 14 Springboks caps agreeing to a three-year deal from next July through to 2026. “The Vodacom Bulls play an exciting brand of rugby and they have great coaches, I am excited for the new challenge ahead,” said Louw after his move became official on Wednesday.

“I’m looking forward to running out in the jersey once more and to having the opportunity in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. It is exciting to be going back to South Africa and to be reunited with the Vodacom Bulls.

“I had an unbelievable time at Harlequins with great memories and hopefully, we can make some great memories in Pretoria too. My rugby career started at the Bulls and it is every rugby player’s dream to win a few trophies in their career, so I am very keen to join the team and work with great players and coaches to make that dream our reality.”

A Bulls statement read: “The rise of Louw to stardom began back in 2012 when he represented Boland at the Craven Week competition, putting in performances that would earn him a call-up into the South African schoolboys squad where he victoriously featured in clashes against England, Wales and France.

“Soon after, he went on to join the U19 Bulls ensemble that would go on to win the 2014 U19 Currie Cup, earning him a call-up to the South African U20 side that would eventually lose the world championship finals to England. Having graduated from the U19s, Wilco went on to win the U20s provincial championship before returning to the Cape to join the Stormers and Western Province, going on to win the 2017 edition of the Currie Cup.

“The Springboks-capped front-rower has earned 14 national caps to date, having made his debut against the All-Blacks back in October 2017… The Ceres native spent a short-term spell with French side Toulon before earning 49 caps for his current club, Harlequins, for whom he scored a try in the 2021 Premiership final against Exeter.”

Blue Bulls rugby union president Willem Strauss added: “It is wonderful to have a top international tighthead joining us in the prime of his career. Wilco was part of our junior structures and his return will surely bolster our pack of forwards. We look forward to welcoming him home.”