Zebre sign Kriel from the Bulls

Zebre Parma have signed Richard Kriel from the Bulls, the Italian club have confirmed. The fullback has signed a one year contract with the option of a second.

The club see him as a potential replacement for Samoan fullback Junior Laloifi, who just departed the Italian side.

Kriel, who just turned 22, is fresh from the playoffs of the Currie Cup with the Blue Bulls and is set to join up with his new teammates in Parma for pre-season. He is the brother of Bulls utility back David Kriel, who he leaves behind in Pretoria.

Bryan Habana, Jonny Hill’s hair pulling and South Africa’s revenge | RugbyPass Offload | Ep 41

Video Player is loading.

Play Video

PlaySkip BackwardSkip Forward

Unmute

Current Time 0:00

/

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Seek to live, currently behind liveLIVE

Remaining Time -0:00

 

1x

Playback Rate

Chapters

• Chapters

Descriptions

• descriptions off, selected

Captions

• captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
• captions off, selected

Audio Track

Fullscreen

This is a modal window.

The Video Cloud video was not found.

Error Code: VIDEO_CLOUD_ERR_VIDEO_NOT_FOUND

Session ID: 2025-05-24:5fce905e5340da298c1c2900 Player Element ID: brightcove-embedded-video

OK

Close Modal Dialog

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

Text

ColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityOpaqueSemi-Transparent

Text Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparent

Caption Area Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaque

Font Size

50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%

Text Edge Style

NoneRaisedDepressedUniformDrop shadow

Font Family

Proportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall Caps

ResetDone

Close Modal Dialog

End of dialog window.

Close Modal Dialog

This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

Bryan Habana, Jonny Hill’s hair pulling and South Africa’s revenge | RugbyPass Offload | Ep 41

“It is an honor to join the Zebre, I can’t wait to reach Parma and start this new experience! It is a great growth opportunity that I want to take full advantage of: I will give my best for the club “.

Born in Potchefstroom on July 7, 2000, Kriel discovered rugby at the age of six at school and before becoming a standout player on the South African schoolboy rugby circuit.

He attended Gray College in Bloemfontein where he played alongside new Zebre teammate Franco Smith Jr.

After a brief stint at the Free State Cheetahs, Kriel moved to Pretoria and signed with the Bulls, debuting in the first team in 2021 and taking the field in both the Currie Cup and the United Rugby Championship, making his official URC debut on December 3, 2021 in Durban against the Sharks.

The 6’3, 90kg fullback represented the Tuks of the University of Pretoria, starring in the Varsity Cup for the side.

For their part, Jake White’s Bulls have just signed utility back Wandisile Simelane from the Lions, who principally plays as a centre.

Simelane’s signing comes after the confirmation of the arrival of back rows Mihlali Mosi and Phumzile Maqondwana, as well as the earlier recruitment of Sbu Nkosi, Ruan Vermaak and Dylan Smith.