South African rugby side the Vodacom Bulls bolstered their squad with the signing of Springbok back-row Arno Botha from Irish rugby union club Munster Rugby.
A statement on the Bulls’ website said that the loose forward will join the team from July, if travel restrictions allow.
The club had released a series of posts on social media last week teasing Botha’s arrival using the phrase “108kg’s of solid gold heading to Loftus”.
Botha rejoins the Pretoria-based outfit after more than two years in Europe at London Irish and Munster, the latter being where he greatly enhanced his reputation.
Botha scored eight tries in 43 appearances and was Munster’s top try-scorer this season before it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Botha’s breakthrough year in 2011 saw him captain the Junior Springboks, make his debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls junior teams, debut in the Currie Cup and win the SA Rugby U20 Player of the Year award.
He went on to make his debut for the Springboks two years later before a serious knee injury cut short his international career. He, however, played for the South Africa ‘A’ side against the English Saxons in 2016.
The 29-year-old said it was an honour and a pleasure to have played at one of the best clubs in the world and looked forward to a new chapter with the Bulls.
“As one door closes another one opens, and with this in mind I just want to thank the Vodacom Bulls for the opportunity to be part of the Bulls Family again, especially in this time. The Bulls have always and will always be a special part of my life and I’m looking forward to being back at Loftus. Is awesome to be heading home.”
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said there was no doubt that the fans at Loftus Versfeld will be ecstatic to see him back.
“He started his rugby journey here and played all of his junior rugby in blue. There were big things expected from him from a young age, and he has now grown into a complete and well balanced loosie. It’s no secret that we are in the process of building something very special at Loftus, and Arno is going to be a huge part of that.”
