The Bulls have reportedly lost the services of Springbok star Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has decided to sign with a Japanese club.
Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse to Take Short-Term Sabbatical in Japan
Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse has been granted permission to take a short-term sabbatical in Japan, which will see him miss most of the upcoming season.
The Reason Behind Arendse’s Unexpected Move
According to a report by the Sunday newspaper Rapport, the Bulls have given Arendse approval to make a short-term move to the Mitsubishi Dynaboars to increase his earnings.
Arendse, who has been with the Bulls since 2020, is expected to return to the team after the Rugby Championship but will head to Japan in December.
The 28-year-old will play in Japan’s League One from December until May and is set to return to Pretoria in time for the Vodacom URC playoffs. Despite his temporary move, Arendse is still under contract with the Bulls until 2026.
The Bulls will kick off their campaign on 20 September with a north-south derby against the Stormers in Cape Town. The URC playoffs are scheduled for the weekend of 30 May.
Arendse’s move is similar to the arrangement granted to Lukhanyo Am by the Sharks, when the Springbok center played six games for Kobe Steelers in 2022.
