The Vodacom Bulls have pulled off the signing of the year, securing World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx on a deal that will see the Springbok superstar arrive at Loftus Versfeld by April next year. Die Papier confirmed with two impeccable sources that the 94-cap rake has officially put pen to paper, completing a blockbuster move that significantly bolsters the Pretoria franchise’s forward stocks.

“Malcolm has signed and he is officially a Bull at the end of the season. He will, as things currently stand, be in Pretoria in April, May or June next year,” a source revealed.

Also read: Bulls land World Cup winner Smith in major three year coup

Marx’s addition represents a seismic coup for Bulls president Willem Strauss and head coach Johan Ackermann, who are assembling a forward pack capable of challenging anyone.

Marx, who claimed World Rugby’s top individual honour last year, was also one of the Springboks’ standout performers during the Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand earlier this year. The two-time World Cup winner’s contract with Japanese club Kubota Spears, where he’s plied his trade since 2021, expires at season’s end, freeing him to return home.

The 30-year-old made his Test debut for South Africa against New Zealand in 2016 and has since amassed 94 caps whilst crossing for 29 tries, the most Test tries scored by a South African hooker in history. His lineout prowess, ball-carrying ability and defensive work rate make him the complete package at No.2.

Smith settles in

Kwagga Smith, who signed a three-year deal to reunite with Ackermann, his former coach at the Lions, is currently focused on his rehabilitation programme following a knee injury sustained in May. The 31-year-old’s arrival adds further depth to an already stacked loose forward contingent at Loftus.

Strauss described Smith as an incredibly valuable player and said it’s an honour to welcome someone of his calibre.

“Kwagga is a massive acquisition. He has proven in his 63 Tests for the Springboks time and again that he can change the course of a match,” Strauss told Die Papier. “The fact that he was part of Johan’s squad at the Lions is one of the main reasons why he’s coming to play in Pretoria for the next three years.

“The Bulls now have many loose forwards, but it’s a position where injuries can strike, as has already been proven.”

Also read: Short term deal only: Dobson on Mbonambi emergency signing

Contracting challenges and calendar concerns

Player contracting remains an exhausting process involving lengthy negotiations and millions of rands, but Strauss has no issue with the mechanics.

“Teams like the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions have a fixed amount that may be spent on player remuneration. Teams may also only contract 56 players at senior level,” he explained.

“It remains an ongoing process to determine where players are needed and which players are available. There are various reasons and different times when players want to return from overseas. We sometimes use a loan process with players from teams like the Pumas and Griquas, and it gives us an opportunity to test their abilities at the next level.”

However, Strauss voiced serious concerns about rugby’s relentless calendar and its impact on player welfare.

“The fact that we play rugby for 12 months of the year is not sustainable,” he warned. “The Currie Cup is currently squeezed in when players should be getting a break before the next United Rugby Championship must begin.

“A solution is that this rugby championship should be played at the same time as the Six Nations so that our teams can have a proper pre-season for the URC.”

Youth development crisis looms

More worryingly, Strauss raised alarm bells about South Africa’s ability to retain young talent, pointing to structural deficiencies that could see promising players fall through the cracks.

“I am very concerned that young talent will be lost. It makes no sense that there are only six professional U20 teams in the country,” he said. “This means that in two years, our best school players must be absorbed into just six teams.

“We need at least eight to 10 of these teams, and some of the other provinces will also have to establish high-performance centres to properly develop all the junior talent so they can be absorbed into the structures.”

For now, though, the Bulls can celebrate landing one of rugby’s premier forwards, and Loftus faithful have every reason to be excited about what’s coming.

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