Bulls reignite efforts to sign Springboks back and 137kg prop from ...

The Bulls have reignited their efforts to re-sign former Springboks centre Jan Serfontein from French club Montpellier.

Serfontein has played over 100 times for the Top 14 outfit who he joined from the Bulls in 2017 but he looks set to return to Pretoria at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old came close to signing for the Bulls ahead of the 2023/24 season but the deal fell through at the last minute and he opted to extend his contract at Montpellier for another season.

According to Rapport, the Bulls have now renewed their efforts to sign the centre who earned the last of his 35 Test caps against New Zealand in 2017.

Serfontein previously told the publication that he intended to return to South Africa this season but a delay in getting his French citizenship led to him extending his contract with Montpellier.

The centre is still yet to get his citizenship which is currently stalling his talks with the Bulls but he is optimistic that it could be sorted quickly.

Handre Pollard could join Springboks teammate’s club as mega-money move is tabled

Serfontein hopes that his return to South Africa would put him back in the Springboks selection frame as he has not played for the Boks since leaving the Bulls in 2017.

“If you play in South Africa, you are seen more,” the midfielder told Rapport earlier this year.

“The French Top 14 is not broadcast in South Africa. If I can play in South Africa I would like to be eligible for the Boks again.”

Where are they now? The star-studded U20 World Championship-winning Junior Springboks that ended New Zealand’s dominance

Serfontein would boost the Bulls’ backline stocks with his ability to play inside and outside centre while the report adds that Jake White is looking to sign another France-based South African in tighthead prop Carlu Sadie.

The 137kg prop is in the second season with Bordeaux who he joined from the Sharks ahead of 2023/24 but is now in talks to bolster the Bulls’ front row after White signed Wilco Louw from Harlequins.

The report adds that Stormers scrum-half Paul de Wet will join the Bulls next season having already signed a deal to link up with White’s side.

This after reports in France stated that Cobus Reinach will be joining the Stormers in Cape Town with Hershel Jantjies heading in the opposite direction and signing a contract with Montpellier.

Meanwhile, Rapport adds that Duhan van der Merwe is unlikely to sign with a South African team as he is set to re-sign with Edinburgh beyond this current season. The Scotland international’s contract expires in July next year and has attracted interest from the Sharks and Stormers as well as French club La Rochelle but Edinburgh are fighting hard to retain his services.

READ MORE: All Blacks knock Ireland off the top of the world rankings, what it means for the Springboks