Marco van Staden has committed to powering the Vodacom Bulls as a loose-forward dynamo after putting pen to paper on a contract extension.
The World Cup-winning Springbok has extended his stay with the Pretoria outfit by a further three years.
The 28-year-old returned to Loftus Versfeld in 2021 from English club Leicester Tigers and signed an initial two-year deal, which has seen him make 31 appearances for the Bulls to date. He has earned 120 caps over eight years in the capital.
“I think this club will always be like my family and Loftus will always be my home. This is where my professional career started and it will always be a place that is close to my heart,” Van Staden said.
“The opportunity to extend is a privilege and stay for even longer, I am excited to see what is ahead for me and my family.”
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“I have a few top memories like my first Super Rugby match, winning the Currie Cup when this current group started to come together, and the other top memory is having my parents at every game since I started to play at the U21, every weekend I play they never miss a game” he added.
Eskom, as he is affectionately known, says family was a big influence on his decision to remain playing in South Africa but also the current Bulls environment, and the ambitious flanker says there is bigger and better that lies ahead for both the club and fans.
“For us a group that keeps getting better and stronger and tighter, playing even better rugby; there will always be room for improvement and we will start to improve in all areas of the game, on and off the field and I think we will become even better and start to dominate as a club even more across the Champions Cup and the URC,” he said.
Lights out, Eskom is staying home till JUNE 2027 👀😉🔥#BackTheBulls | #DefendTheHerd pic.twitter.com/7xM8CY3Dx4
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) May 9, 2024
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter