{"id":470520,"date":"2026-03-12T00:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T00:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/470520\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T00:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T00:10:09","slug":"bulls-win-bok-lock-tug-of-war-ex-england-stars-son-gets-pro-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/470520\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulls win Bok lock tug-of-war; ex-England star&#8217;s son gets pro deal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>mens<\/p>\n<p>united-rugby-championship<\/p>\n<p>    CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA &#8211; AUGUST 23: Cobus Wiese of South Africa during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia at DHL Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher\/Gallo Images\/Getty Images) <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"expand\" src=\"https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/images\/common-svg\/select-arrow.svg\" height=\"6\" width=\"11\"\/>      https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/news\/fissler-extra-bulls-win-bok-lock-tug-of-war-ex-england-stars-son-gets-pro-deal\/    <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/bulls\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bulls<\/a> have agreed on a new three-year contract for Springbok lock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/cobus-wiese\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cobus Wiese<\/a> to remain in Pretoria and deliver a blow to his former club, the Stormers, who were keen to take him back to Durban.<\/p>\n<p>The 28-year-old returned from Sale <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/sharks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sharks<\/a> in 2024 to catch the eye of Bok coach, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/rassie-erasmus\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rassie Erasmus<\/a> and is the younger brother of fellow Springbok, No.8 Jasper Wiese.<\/p>\n<p>He was wanted by John Dobson to replace <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/ruben-van-heerden\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ruben van Heerden<\/a>, who is moving to French club <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/montpellier\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Montpellier<\/a> later this year.<\/p>\n<p>Wiese, who has made 32 appearances for the Bulls, won two Test caps against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/italy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Italy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/georgia\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia<\/a> last summer.<\/p>\n<p>Veteran hooker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/jack-yeandle\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jack Yeandle<\/a> admits that he would like to do another season with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/exeter-chiefs\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Exeter Chiefs<\/a> after leading them into this Sunday\u2019s PREM Rugby Cup against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/leicester\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Leicester<\/a> Tigers at Welford Road.<\/p>\n<p>Yeandle, who will be 37 in December, joined his hometown club from Doncaster Knights in 2012 and has racked up more than 300 appearances for the club, banishing any thoughts of this being his last campaign.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am keen, and my body feels good. It\u2019s a great job, and I\u2019d love to do another year,\u201d said Yeandle, who has won two Premiership titles and the 2020 European Champions Cup.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/newcastle\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Newcastle<\/a> Red Bulls could make their 19th\u2019s new signing ahead of next season, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/samson-adejimi\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samson Adejimi<\/a>, who has been on loan in the North-East, pushing to make a permanent switch to Kingston Park.<\/p>\n<p>The hooker who can also play at openside flanker made two appearances for the Red Bulls in the PREM Rugby Cup after being signed in November following an injury to Italy international Hame Faiva.<\/p>\n<p>He has scored eight tries in 14 games for Sarries, where he is behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/england\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">England<\/a> hookers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/jamie-george\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jamie George<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/theo-dan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Theo Dan<\/a>, as well as 12 in 27 appearances for Championship side Ampthill.<\/p>\n<p>Springbok World Cup winner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/jean-kleyn\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jean Kleyn<\/a> looks set to continue his international career when he moves to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/gloucester\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gloucester<\/a> after a decade with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/united-rugby-championship\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">United Rugby Championship<\/a> giants <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/munster\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Munster<\/a> later this year.<\/p>\n<p>The former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/ireland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ireland<\/a> lock, 32, came off the bench for the Springboks in their 2023 World Cup Final victory over New Zealand, and won a recall to the international stage for wins over Italy and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/wales\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wales<\/a> during the autumn.<\/p>\n<p>Now it has been reported that Johannesburg-born Kleyn, who started his career with the Stomers is likely to be invited by Rassie Erasmus to a Bok\u2019s virtual alignment camp for overseas players.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis Noon, the son of former Newcastle Falcons and England international Jamie, is now a leading player\u2019s agent and has signed a two-year deal with Brive.<\/p>\n<p>Noon, 21, who has made three appearances in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/pro-d2\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pro D2<\/a> over the last couple of seasons, can operate on the wing or at full-back, has come through the ranks at Brive.<\/p>\n<p>He has declared that he wants to represent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/france\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">France<\/a> on the international stage after playing for them in the U18 Rugby Europe Sevens, and the second year of his new contract will be a professional deal.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/saracens\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Saracens<\/a> are understood to be speaking to former NRL star Sione Va\u2019enuku about making the move from Rugby Champ outfit Ampthill next season.<\/p>\n<p>Va\u2019enuku, who has been dubbed the Tongan tropudo, moved to the UK two years ago for a trial with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/northampton\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Northampton<\/a> Saints after being recommended to their defence coach, Lee Radford.<\/p>\n<p>The ex-Sydney Rooster, who mainly operates at outside centre, is qualified to play for England and has scored nine tries in 32 appearances in the second tier, but is likely to get a chance in the top flight next season.<\/p>\n<p>Ronan O\u2019Gara is having a massive clear-out at La Rochelle, with at least eight players set to leave the club as they look to rebuild for next season.<\/p>\n<p>Tight-head <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/joel-sclavi\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joel Sclavi<\/a> is moving to Leicester Tigers, the veteran former Wallaby lock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/kane-douglas\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kane Douglas<\/a> is on his way out to make room for Saracens star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/theodore-mcfarland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Theo McFarland<\/a>, who we reported in December was on his way.<\/p>\n<p>Fly-half <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/ihaia-west\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ihaia West<\/a>, winger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/suliasi-vunivalu\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Suliasi Vunivalu<\/a>, hokker Tolu Latu and Lock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/ultan-dillane\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ultan Dillane<\/a> have all also been told that they are surplus to requirements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"mens united-rugby-championship CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA &#8211; AUGUST 23: Cobus Wiese of South Africa during the Castle Lager&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":470521,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-470520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/470520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/470521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=470520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=470520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}