Vodacom Bulls stalwart Ruan Nortjé says there would be no better way to say goodbye to his team than by lifting the URC trophy against Leinster at Croke Park on Friday night.
The Bulls co-captain brings down the curtain on a decade-long career in Pretoria and will link up with fellow Springbok Malcolm Marx at the Kubota Spears in Japan from next season.
“For me, and I think all of us in this team, it would be really special to win the trophy for the people of Pretoria,” Nortjé said ahead of the final.
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The lock knows the scale of the challenge awaiting Johan Ackermann’s side after last season’s defeat to Leinster, but believes the Bulls have earned the right to believe.
“We know we are up against a quality team, like they showed us last season.
“So for us it’s all about having belief and going out and giving everything we’ve got until the last minute.”
The occasion carries extra significance for the towering lock.
“It’s very special for me to be able to sign off my time with the Bulls in a Grand Final.
“Sometimes you look back and wonder, how did I get here?”
His journey to this point started with a message that changed his life.
While preparing for his matric exams and planning to study at North-West University, Nortjé received a WhatsApp message.
“It was from the Bulls. They asked if I had any options after school and whether I’d be interested in joining them.
“I’ll never forget that feeling. It was a very easy decision for me to make.”
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A lifelong Bulls supporter, Nortjé went on to rise through the ranks and become one of the team’s most respected leaders.
“They played a part in shaping the person I have become, and for that I can only be grateful.
“It goes back to me being a Bulls supporter from childhood. There was nothing better than cheering on Bryan Habana or Pierre Spies whenever they scored a try.”
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/X
