Nick Said, Special to ESPN 6y

Bulls coach Mitchell names extended squad for pre-season

Rugby

Bulls coach John Mitchell has named his training squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season, including new signings Frans van Wyk and Thembelani Bholi.

The group is a mixture of regulars, South African sevens players and young untried talent as Mitchell casts his net wide in the search to bring success back to Loftus Versfeld.

"We are all pretty excited to get the pre-season underway and start putting the hard yards in," Mitchell said in a media release from the union on Wednesday.

"The squad shows a good combination of old hands and young upstarts and they all know one thing, no spot in the final squad is guaranteed.

"Everyone will have to contribute and work very hard to make it into the final group and that will bring some competition in the squad, something that can only benefit us in the long run."

Mitchell has also included players still plying their trade in Japan, most notably locks RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins. Two Blitzboks, Tim Agaba and Stedman Gans, are also in the group, although they are preparing with the Sevens national side in Stellenbosch at the moment.

The Bulls have confirmed three warm-up matches so far. The squad will be split to play the Lions in Johannesburg and Sharks in Polokwane on January 27, while they will also travel to Los Angeles to face compatriots the Stormers on February 3.

The Bulls open their Super Rugby campaign on February 24 at home to the Hurricanes.

^ Back to Top ^