Bulls snatch up talented Stormers poacher

The Bulls have acquired the services of Kuyenzeka ‘Nama’ Xaba on an initial two-year deal.

As the loose forward is affectionately known, ‘Nama’ will slot into the openside flanker role when he arrives at the capital to begin his journey with the herd until June 2026.

Stormers talent makes his way up North

The Glenwood High and University of Cape Town captain arrives in the capital from the DHL Stormers with whom he has spent much of his junior and senior professional career, making 25 senior appearances for the Cape side.

Xaba boasts an impressive CV, having led his high school both on and off the field. Captaining Glenwood in the same year he was the school’s head boy. He finished his matric with five distinctions and has gone on to obtain a BSc in Geomatics at the University he occasionally captained. He earned his first provincial colours for the Kwa-Zulu Natal at under-12 before going on to earn further caps at Under-13 Craven Week, Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, Academy Week as well as at Craven Week.

“This is a privilege for me to come join the most successful union in South Africa,”

“I am looking forward to a different challenge away from my comfort zone. There is a lot of quality players at the Vodacom Bulls and I want to play alongside them.

“I also have a wonderful opportunity to be taught by seasoned coaches, I am looking forward to learning from them.”

Xaba adds: “I cannot wait to slot into the brand of rugby this club plays and I have hopes of doing my bit to help add more silverware to the Loftus trophy cabinet.”

Xaba will be a classic openside says Dobson

Stormers coach John Dobson admitted last season that Xaba’s progress was hindered by injury.

“A year or two ago, we saw him as a natural replacement for Deon, and eventually a Springbok six.

“He’s just got that in him, but a fractured back is a terrible injury, as there is so little training that you can do while you are injured,” Dobson said.

“It’s not like an ACL, where you can do upper-body stuff. Fetching is a lot about timing and those decisions, and that unfortunately comes with game time.

“One of the challenges – and probably the other SA teams would agree with me – is that we haven’t got another competition going on now, like the Vodacom Cup or SuperSport Challenge or Currie Cup, where you can give players three games before they come up to this level.

“But our game model – which Deon has showed us – is that we need an out-and-out ‘stealer’ (at the breakdowns), and I have no doubt that Nama’s got the potential.

“I do suspect that it’s a bit early in his return, and that is why I want to give him a start – so that he doesn’t have that stress of wanting to make magic in a few second-half minutes, which is a bit cruel.

“When he gets fitter, stronger and injury-free, he will become a classic openside flank.”