Adriaan Strauss hits the home stretch

Jun 26 • General News, International, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 2302 Views • Comments Off on Adriaan Strauss hits the home stretch

Every now and then there comes along a rugby player that helps define the essence of what the term ‘#BullsFamily’ stands for, both on and off the field. Vodacom Bulls hooker, Adriaan Strauss, certainly epitomises that sentiment.

The 32-year-old hooker has officially announced that he will be retiring from all forms of the game at the end of the 2018 Vodacom Super Rugby season, following a sterling 14-year rugby career. He announced his retirement from test rugby last year, and followed that with a short sabbatical to recharge his batteries in the later part of the year. Strauss came back strong and revived, and reminded the world just why he has been rated so highly over his career, as he made a huge impact on the Vodacom Bulls 2018 Super Rugby season

He started his professional career within the Bulls junior system in 2004, going on to make his Super Rugby debut in 2006, playing in 8 Super matches before moving to the Toyota Cheetahs, where he represented the Free State Franchise in 97 Super Rugby outings. The hooker was then lured back to Pretoria, where he played another 51 Super matches, making him the most capped South African Super Rugby player of all time with 156 caps to date.

Strauss captained the Vodacom Bulls in 2016 and 2017, and was also appointed as the Springbok captain in 2016, becoming the 56^th captain of the national team.

Xander Janse van Rensburg, High Performance Manager of the BBCo, wished Strauss all the best with his future endeavours: “Adriaan is no doubt a legend of Loftus and rugby in this country in general, and will be remembered for his never-say-die attitude. You don’t get to 156 caps unless you are made of something really special. One behalf of the entire #BullsFamily, I would like to wish him everything of the best with what lies ahead.”

Strauss thanked the Vodacom Bulls for backing him: “It hasn’t been an easy decision, but one that I’ve been thinking about for a while now. I have been blessed to play the game I love, with and against some amazing people, all while building some great friendships. The Vodacom Bulls have always backed me and given me the opportunity to prove myself, and for this I am eternally grateful. It is however time for me to enter into the next phase of my life and focus on a few new ventures… and off course enjoy being a supporter while I’m at it.”

The Blue Bulls Company would also like to confirm that flanker Shaun Adendorf and flyhalf Francois Brummer will also be released at the end of June to further their careers abroad. Both men have represented the brand with utmost pride, and we would like to also wish them all the best going forward.