The Vodacom Bulls have re-signed one of their former young stars who will add crucial cover to the loose forward and lock positions.
According to reporter, the Pretoria-based side has secured Hanro Liebenberg’s services from English Premiership outfit the Leicester Tigers.
The arrival of the 30-year-old will provide crucial cover when Springboks such as Elrigh Louw, Ruan Nortje, Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom and Marco van Staden are unavailable due to national duty.
The Leicester stalwart will also add much-needed experience to the Bulls ranks for European and Vodacom URC campaigns.
Liebenberg first represented the Bulls between 2015 and 2019 after captaining the Junior Springboks in 2015.
He then moved overseas, spending time at Stade Français before joining Leicester, where he established himself as one of the club’s most reliable performers.
Liebenberg was appointed vice-captain in the 2021-22 season and promoted to club captain the following year. He reached the milestone of 100 appearances for Leicester in February 2024 and has been a near ever-present, starting the vast majority of their matches thanks to his physicality, work rate and consistency.
Liebenberg becomes the second Leicester player to recently return to Loftus Versfeld, having previously played alongside Handré Pollard during the Springbok flyhalf’s spell at the Tigers.
Before joining Bath, Van Wyk also turned out for the Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints.
“I’m
We’re confident Francois can be a real asset to the group next season. He’s an excellent scrummager, brings real physicality and comes with a wealth of experience at the highest level of northern hemisphere rugby.”
Van Wyk was part of Bath’s historic treble-winning campaign last season, playing a key role as they claimed the English Premiership, EPCR Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.
looking forward to the move to Connacht in the summer,” Van Wyk said. “The opportunity of experiencing a new country, in a new league, is something that appeals to me at this stage of my career. From my discussions with everyone in Connacht, I’m confident I can make a positive impact and help bring success to the west of Ireland.”
