CJ Stander to move to Munster.

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Courtesy of Sport 24



Pretoria - The Blue Bulls Company announced on Wednesday that Bulls loose forward CJ Stander has decided against taking the option to extend his contract with the union.

Stander will instead move to Munster, after agreeing terms with the Irish club.

Stander will remain part of the Bulls' Super Rugby squad and will be available to play for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition.

He will move to Ireland when his contract with the union runs out on October 31.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Bulls Company, Barend van Graan, said that they were unable to match the current offer on the table from the Irish club.

“We identified CJ at schoolboy level already and he was part of our future planning at the Bulls. However we couldn’t match the Munster offer - such is the reality of professional sport.”

Bulls coach, Frans Ludeke, wished Stander well in his decision.

“Quality players like CJ, who have also shown tremendous leadership abilities, don’t come around very often and so it was not a surprise to hear about his overseas offer. We would have loved to have had him with us well into the future, but it makes financial sense for CJ to accept the Munster offer. I have no doubt that CJ will continue to give everything he has throughout the remainder of our Super Rugby campaign as well as our Currie Cup season.”

Stander has captained the Vodacom Blue Bulls at U19 and U21 level as well as South Africa at U20 level.

He made his Super Rugby debut in 2012 and has played in all 13 Super Rugby matches for the Bulls this year.

I think that in 2 years if he's performing at the level where he has a chance of the all-black shirt he'll return home.

If the all-blacks have to many players ahead of him, they I'm sure he'll weight up his options

Well the All Blacks will always have loads of back 3 players but he could slot in at 13 when Smith retires maybe