Kurt-Lee Arendse has shed light on his plans after returning to Pretoria from a stint in Japan.
The Springbok wing made just four appearances in last season’s Vodacom URC before joining the Mitsubishi Dynaboars on a sabbatical deal following his Test commitments with the Springboks in November.
The Bulls had hoped Arendse would return to Pretoria in time for the URC playoffs but he missed the cut-off date, much to the frustration of coach Jake White.
The 29-year-old has attracted strong interest in Japan after a standout season for the Dynaboars, with several clubs reportedly willing to pay a hefty transfer fee to buy him out of his current Bulls contract, which runs until mid-2026
I’m with the Bulls for now. I’m still unsure about the path going forward,” Arendse told Rapport when quizzed about his future.
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone confirmed that while Arendse’s contract has not yet been extended, “he’ll definitely be playing for us next season”.
Arendse, who scored seven tries in 12 Japan Rugby League One matches, said he thrived in his new environment.
“The coaches gave me the freedom to run, no matter where I played [wing or fullback]. I really enjoyed that.”
Jake White, Bulls Director of Rugby, also weighed in, saying the franchise is doing everything in its power to retain top talent like Arendse.
“Kurt-Lee is world-class. Every team would want him, but we’re committed to building something special here, and players like him are key to that vision,” said White.
While fans can breathe a sigh of relief for now, Arendse’s remarks did leave the door slightly ajar for future possibilities. “Rugby careers are short. If the right opportunity comes one day, we’ll look at it,” he said.
For now, the speedster is locked in for another run with the Bulls — and their faithful fans will be hoping it leads to silverware.
