World Cup-winning Springbok Victor Matfield will dust off his boots and make a return to competitive rugby for the Bulls this season, the Super Rugby club announced on Friday.
The towering second-rower, who retired two seasons ago with 110 Test caps and a World Cup win under his belt, will return to the club he captained to multiple Super Rugby titles.
“To have someone with Victor’s experience available for selection, as well as his expertise on the training field, is a win-win situation for us,” said Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.
Matfield has been named on the bench for Saturday’s friendly against the Stormers.
Only John Smit, with 111 caps, has played more Tests for South Africa.
Perhaps inspired by the return of veteran Bakkies Botha in the green and gold, Matfield has made no secret of the fact he would like to again represent the Spingboks, and perhaps break Smit’s record.
“Victor has been a superb servant of Springbok and Bulls rugby and he has shown on the training field in the last couple of months that he is still hungry to succeed at the top levels of the game,” said Ludeke.
Meyer says Matfield “was not given any guarantees about Springbok selection. If he can show he still has what it takes to be a Springbok, he will be considered.”
Matfield is slated to take up a coaching role at the club from 2016.