The Bulls could be without the services of Springboks winger Kurt-Lee Arendse for the remainder of the season, according to reports.

Arendse left the Pretoria-based side late last year to join Japanese club Sagamihara DynaBoars for the 2024/25 season.

Kurt-Lee Arendse’s return in doubt

At the time, it was stated that the World Cup winner would return for the Bulls in time for the United Rugby Championship knockout stages but that might not be the case.

Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone has explained that the Springboks winger’s return will be dependent on how the DynaBoars fare in the Japan Rugby League One season.

Last season, the side narrowly avoided the relegation play-off matches, finishing ninth overall – out of 12 – after winning just six of their 16 regular season games.

They are currently ranked ninth overall after two wins from the opening five games and while the possibility of a relegation play-off looms, the competitiveness of the league means that they could be in the title hunt too.

Arendse’s deal with the Japanese club is part of the four-year contract extension he signed with the Bulls which allowed a sabbatical and, while he was set to return in time for the play-offs, he may remain in Japan instead if the DynaBoars are in the race for survival or chasing the title.

“Whether he’ll be back depends on how his Japanese team performs. If they’re in the playoffs or battling relegation, he won’t return,” Rathbone told News24.

“To be fair, Kurt-Lee hasn’t had a break in 18 months, and he probably deserves one.”

He added: “This deal is life-changing for him. We can’t be selfish – it’s about making a real impact on his life.”

While the Bulls failed to progress past the pool stages of this season’s Investec Champions Cup, they are flying high in the URC after five wins from seven matches. They rank fourth overall on the league table but have two games in hand over second-placed Glasgow Warriors, who have an eight-point buffer.

Arendse’s absence would be a massive blow to the Bulls’ hopes of winning the URC but Rathbone adds that the short-term losses do not outweigh retaining him long-term.

“If it keeps him with the Bulls longer, that’s a win,” he added.

Pieter-Steph du Toit update

Meanwhile, Pieter-Steph du Toit could miss the entire season in Japan after Toyota Verblitz boss Sir Steve Hansen recruited Michael Hooper as an injury replacement for the 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year.

Du Toit is yet to play for the Hansen and Ian Foster-led Toyota this campaign after sustaining an injury while on duty with the Springboks last November.

The back-rower missed South Africa’s final game of the November internationals against Wales, with SA Rugby stating that he was released from the squad ahead of the clash as he was ‘nursing a shoulder niggle’.

That niggle has seen him miss two months of action for Toyota Verblitz, who have remained rather tight-lipped on the back-rower’s fitness to date.

However, the club have recruited cover for the Springboks star with Hansen convincing former Wallabies captain Hooper to return to the rugby pitch having announced his retirement from Australian rugby last year.

Hooper made the announcement in June 2024 having failed to crack the Australian sevens team for the Olympic Games. He would play one final game for the Barbarians but hasn’t laced up his boots since.

He has been recruited to seemingly fill Du Toit’s void with fellow back-rower Kazuki Himeno also sidelined through injury.

While Hansen has not addressed the Springboks flanker’s injury, respected Japan-based journalist Rich Freeman has revealed that Du Toit could be sidelined until May.

“Reason for Michael Hooper joining Toyota mid-season. Been informed by source that Pieter-Steph du Toit has had shoulder surgery and will be out until at least May,” Freeman wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

The final round of the Japan Rugby League One season takes place on the second weekend of May and if Du Toit is yet to return for the side by then, he will be ineligible for the knockout stages of the campaign if Verblitz do qualify.

That is unless Verblitz copy the Kintetsu Liners’ lead with the Bok forward making a brief cameo before immediately being substituted which was the case back in 2023 when Quade Cooper kicked off a match for the Liners before being substituted at the next stoppage of play.

If not, then the Bok forward could link up with Rassie Erasmus’ squad in July with no game time under his belt which was the case with Malcolm Marx in 2024.