Bulls admit defeat as Munster snap up baby Bok Stander
Former South Africa schools captain Stander, 22, will join Munster when his contract with the Bulls ends in October at the end of their Super 15 and Currie Cup campaign and he will move to Ireland, subject to being granted a work permit, as a designated ‘project’ player, meaning he is eligible to qualify for Ireland.
Described on the Bulls website as bringing “a massive work rate, great rugby brain, impeccable leadership skills and tremendous ability in the loose” to the team, Stander has justified the hype in his debut Super 15 season, contributing four tries in 13 appearances to date.
That form earned Stander an invitation by new Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer to join his training squad ahead of their series with England, although the back row was one of five young players not considered for selection.
The Blue Bulls had offered him a contract extension but their chief executive Barend van Graan said they were unable to match the Irish offer.
“We identified CJ at schoolboy level already and he was part of our future planning at the Bulls,” van Graan said, “However we couldn’t match the Munster offer — such is the reality of professional sport.”
The CEO’s words were echoed by Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, who added: “Quality players like CJ, who have also shown tremendous leadership abilities, don’t come around very often and so it was not a surprise to hear about his overseas offer.
“We would have loved to have had him with us well into the future, but it makes financial sense for CJ to accept the Munster offer.”
Stander becomes the fifth and final overseas player on the Munster roster for 2012-13, complementing the non-Irish-eligible Doug Howlett, BJ Botha, Wian du Preez and fellow new signing Casey Laulala. He also boosts the back-row options for incoming head coach Rob Penney following the retirements through injury of David Wallace and Denis Leamy as well Peter O’Mahony’s inevitable absences due to the IRFU’s player management programme.
There are also a number of young Munster men waiting in the wings such as Dave O’Callaghan and Paddy Butler while the province have also signed Sean Dougall, a former Ulster academy openside flanker from Rotherham Titans on a one-year deal announced back in March.
Dougall was one of the Munster players who began pre-season training on Tuesday under the supervision of head of fitness Bryce Cavanagh.
Those players still on tour with Ireland in New Zealand are due back in mid-July with Penney and incoming backs coach Simon Mannix due to start work on July 16 subject to the New Zealanders securing work permits.
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