Veteran Springboks full-back Willie le Roux looks set to continue playing his club rugby at the Bulls after it was initially revealed that he would be leaving the Pretoria-based outfit.
The 35-year-old’s contract with the Bulls is set to expire at the end of this season and initial reports in the South African media revealed recently that he informed the club that he was not interested in extending it.
Le Roux joined the Bulls from Japan Rugby League One side Toyota Verblitz in 2023 and played a key role in helping Jake White’s side to the United Rugby Championship final last season.
Talks with Bath collapsed
He looked set to join current Premiership table-toppers Bath, whose head of rugby Johann van Graan wanted to use Le Roux in tandem with Scotland playmaker Finn Russell, but talks between the double Rugby World Cup winner and the English club reportedly collapsed.
According to Netwerk24 report, the Bulls were immensely impressed by Le Roux’s performance off the replacements bench during their recent United Rugby Championship triumph over the Lions in Johannesburg.
Netwerk24 believes numerous injuries to the Bulls’ first choice fly-half Johan Goosen and the fact that few quality number 10s are currently looking for new teams have led the men from Pretoria to decide to try to convince Le Roux to consider a contract extension.
If he decides to stay put, Le Roux he will then be contracted as a versatile player who plays full-back as well as flyhalf.
Apart from Goosen, the Bulls also have Boeta Chamberlain and Jaco van der Walt on their books as fly-half options.
In Bulls ranks, it is believed that the plan is for Le Roux to do for them what Stephen Larkham did for the Brumbies and Wallabies during his playing days.
Larkham started his rugby career as a full-back before shifting to fly-half and he became one of the word’s best number 10s. He had excellent playmaking and distribution skills and brought a sense of calmness to his team-mate.
After representing the Springboks in 98 Tests, Le Roux, who made his international debut against Italy in 2013, is now in the twilight of his rugby career.
Le Roux has played 80 Test at full-back and along with Percy Montgomery is the joint record holder for the most Bok Test appearances in that position. The possibility of a positional move could breathe new life into his career.
One person who believes Le Roux can make a successful switch between full-back and fly-half is Hawies Fourie, the coach of Currie Cup Division One champions the Boland Cavaliers, who worked with Le Roux for a long time at the Cheetahs.
“Willie started his professional career at Boland as a 10,” Fourie told Netwerk24.
‘He has the same skills as Quade Cooper’
“Someone (who knows him) called me at the time and said I should look at this guy (Willie) – he has the same skills as Quade Cooper.”
At the time, Le Roux mostly played on the wing and fullback for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition.
“We used him as a playmaker (at fly-half) in phase play – especially because he has good vision and is an excellent ball distributor,” said Fourie, who was the Cheetahs’ Super Rugby backline coach when Le Roux began to shine.
Le Roux made a big difference for the Bulls during a 30-minute came off the bench in their 35-22 triumph over the Lions and caught the eye with his lightnigh-fast identification of space and an accurate long pass.
“I would be surprised if the Bulls don’t strongly consider using him at fly-half again in the United Rugby Championship,” said Fourie.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-veteran-willie-le-roux-to-stay-on-at-bulls-with-new-role-on-the-cards-report
