Nortjé’s biggest wish for his final run with the Vodacom Bulls

Ruan Nortjé. Johan Rynners/Vodacom Bulls

Ruan Nortjé’s remarkable journey with the Vodacom Bulls draws to a close this Friday in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final against Leinster, where this humble hard man of the game hopes he can help give this union a trophy as a sign of his own gratitude for what they’ve done for him.

“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. 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,” says Nortjé.

But it will also be an extremely personal 80 minutes on the grass of Dublin’s Croke Park for Nortjé.

Following a decade with the Bulls, Nortjé is now taking his rugby to Japan. Having had his last official practice at Loftus Versfeld this past Sunday and now preparing for his last game with this team, he can reflect on what it’s meant to him.

“It’s very special for me to be able to sign off my time with the Vodacom Bulls in a Grand Final. Sometimes you look back and you wonder, how did I get here?”

The answer to that question is via a WhatsApp.

Nortjé was heading into his final matric exams and had already been accepted to North West University to study a B.Com in Business Management. He had played the Under-18 Academy Week and was sitting in a cinema with his teammates when his phone buzzed.

“It was from the Vodacom 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.”

Nortjé’s journey at Loftus Versfeld has been a fairytale one as he was drafted into the Under-19 squad and then rose through the ranks on his way to captaining the team and becoming a Springbok.

“It’s hard for me to put into words what this team has meant to me. It would be amazing to end off my time with the Vodacom Bulls with a trophy. But this team has meant so much more to me than just winning games and trophies. The Vodacom Bulls played a part in shaping the person that I have become and for that I can only be grateful. It goes back to me having been a Vodacom Bulls supporter from childhood. There was nothing better for me than to support the Vodacom Bulls and to cheer on Bryan Habana or Pierre Spies whenever they scored a try.

“In that final practice at Loftus I remember looking at the field and just having all these memories of what we’ve gone through together as a team on that field. I can clearly remember January 2017 when I arrived at Loftus to take the team photos with the Under-19 squad and my parents and grandparents were there. My grandfather was always my biggest fan. He’s since passed away but I will forever be grateful for the fact that he was with me that day and could experience that moment when both of our dreams came true.

“But when I think of all the opportunities that have come my way, I’m just eternally grateful. When I look at my journey, the best way I can sum it up is that I’m proof that nothing is impossible. Back in high school, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be where I am today. It’s just by the pure grace of God.”

Leinster Rugby starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe; 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 8 Caelan Doris (capt), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan; 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy; 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Jerry Cahir. Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (capt); 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak; 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan‑Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Nizaam Carr.

Friday

Leinster Rugby v Vodacom Bulls

Croke Park, Dublin – KO 7.30pm IRE & UK/8.30pm ITA & SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 63rd league game)

AR 1: Adam Jones (WRU) AR 2: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv