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Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi one of two to join South African rivals

(Photo by Action Foto Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Fresh from their United Rugby Championship final defeat, the Bulls have announced the signing of winger Aphiwe Dyantyi and flanker Kuyenzeka Xaba from the Stormers.

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The 13-cap Springbok, and former World Rugby breakthrough player of the year, made his professional return at the end of 2023 after serving a four-year doping ban.

The 29-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Bulls, which will keep him at Loftus Versfeld until June 2026.

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“This feels like a second opportunity,” said Dyantyi.

“It will be good to be in an environment like the one the Vodacom Bulls have, almost very familiar considering that I was down the highway during the start of my career.

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“I spent over 10 years in Gauteng, so it is familiar territory and this move feels like me coming home. I am closer to family and friends, a support structure that has been so important for me over the years.

“I hope to enjoy my time with the Loftus family and am thankful for the opportunity Jake (White) and Edgar (Rathbone) have given me.”

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Stormers flanker Xaba has also signed a two-year deal with the URC runners-up, and has set his sights on winning more silverware for the Bulls.

“This is a privilege for me to come join the most successful union in South Africa,” the 26-year-old said.

“I am looking forward to a different challenge away from my comfort zone. There is a lot of quality players at the Vodacom Bulls and I want to play alongside them. I also have a wonderful opportunity to be taught by seasoned coaches, I am looking forward to learning from them.

“I cannot wait to slot into the brand of rugby this club plays and I have hopes of doing my bit to help add more silverware to the Loftus trophy cabinet.”

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R
RedWarriors 49 minutes ago
'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

I actually think Ulster are showing a few green shoots this year. The fact that they ahve the second biggest Provincial population of 2.3 million is misleading. Half the population are unlikely to play due to background. The other half have seen a fall off in private school attendance preferring to school in GB esp Scotland and lost to the system. That will reverse in time.

The solution to the thorny issue of participation based on political background can be solved by breaking Rugby as a truly mainstream sport in the rest of Ireland and thus a sport for all no matter what background.

The QF defeat to NZ in 2023 was a devastating blow to that potential but the IRFU must truly put a lot of resources into this via coaching in ‘regular’ schools and pathways though AIL league etc.

The URC standings of Irish provinces needs a little mitigation. Each club in URC plays their home clubs twice. As Leinster have decided the best strategy to win the URC and challenge in Champions Cup is to decisively have the league phase in the bag so resources can be spared later and home matches in all KOs assured. That means Munster, Ulster and Connaught will score a combined total of zero points against Leinster. Compare that to Welsh teams who will score a combined total of 30 points against Dragons.

There is no weak Irish team so no easy points on offer. The standard has dipped a little but Connaught are good as their European campaign shows and all three will improve next year including Ulster.

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