Bulls tie down young Affies lock until 2030

The Bulls have secured the services of one of their promising young forwards, with lock Reinhardt Ludwig signing a contract extension that will keep him at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria until 2030.

The 24-year-old has come through the Pretoria franchise’s development system and is now viewed as a key part of its long-term plans.

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Ludwig made his Bulls debut in 2021 and has represented the franchise throughout his professional career. He also earned national honours with the South African Under-20 side in 2021 and 2022.

The extension gives the 1.99m, 111kg lock an opportunity to continue developing at the club where his rugby career began.

Bulls back Ludwig’s potential

Ludwig’s leadership credentials were evident long before he entered professional rugby.

He served as head boy at Afrikaanse Seuns Hoërskool (Affies) and captained the school’s First XV, roles that helped establish his reputation as a leader.

That leadership has continued to be a feature of his progress at the Bulls, where his athleticism and physical presence have made him one of the franchise’s emerging talents.

Speaking after signing the extension, Ludwig said he was grateful for the confidence shown in him by the coaches and management.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Bulls for the opportunity to extend. It means a lot that the coaches and the management have shown their trust and belief in me,” he said.

“I’m really excited; they’ve built an unbelievable squad and it’s such a privilege to be a part of that.”

He added that he was committed to working hard and helping the team achieve further success.

Bulls see Ludwig as part of their future

Blue Bulls Company CEO Edgar Rathbone said retaining Ludwig was an important step in the franchise’s planning.

“Reinhardt is exactly the kind of player we want to build this team around. He has come through our system, he leads by example, and he has the athleticism and talent to become a mainstay in our starting side,” Rathbone said.

“Securing him until 2030 shows how much we believe in him and in the future of this squad.”

The extension provides Ludwig with long-term security as he continues to compete for a regular place in the Bulls’ starting XV.

Competition for places in the second row remains strong, meaning the young lock will need to continue producing consistent performances to establish himself as a first-choice selection.

With his future settled, Ludwig’s next challenge is to turn the promise he has shown into a more prominent role in the Bulls side over the coming seasons.