Bulls move on Le Roux as Bath contract talks end

Bath’s former South Africa under-20 scrum-half Neil Le Roux is set to leave The Rec at the end of the season after agreeing to rejoin his former club, the Bulls, when his contract runs out this summer.

Le Roux, 22, left the Bulls in 2024 to move to the West Country after initially joining to complete rehabilitation from injury with the Bath Rugby medical team.

Then, in May 2025, his contract was extended by a year, but injuries have forced him down the pecking order to third or even fourth choice in Johann van Graan’s plans.

Tom Carr-Smith is firmly established as Ben Spencer’s number two. Bernard van der Linde, who made the reverse move from Pretoria on a two-year deal last summer, started last weekend’s PREM Cup game with Sale Sharks.

Bath also have Ieuan Davies, who was born and bred in Swansea, a Wales under-20 international who has played twice for Cardiff in the Challenge Cup this season, waiting in the wings.

Le Roux, a product of Oakdale Agricultural High School, played at the U20 World Cup in 2023 when he was tipped to become a future Springbok international.

But injuries and a lack of game time at the Rec, where he has made seven appearances this season, have brought his career to a standstill, and he has decided to return home.

Le Roux, who spent two seasons at Loftus without making a senior appearance, is hoping that Johan Ackermann will be able to kick-start his career.

He will become the latest South African departure from the treble winners, following hot on the heels of Thomas du Toit joining the Sharks and François van Wyk announcing he is off to Connacht.

Will Butt is also joining Exeter Chiefs, while nobody has yet been confirmed as coming in. They have spoken to props, including Glasgow Warriors star Jamie Bhatti, about returning to the club.