Vodacom Bulls sensation Cameron Hanekom is going nowhere, at least not according to the Bulls.
With the Welsh papers frothing at the mouth at the news that Hanekom, when he burst onto the scene, could qualify for Wales through his grandmother, speculation has been rife that Warren Gatland is looking to recruit him for the Welsh national side.
And while Hanekom at some stage will need to make a choice regarding his future if he wants to play test rugby, at least for now he is bound to the Bulls until 2027.
It hasn’t stopped the Welsh papers from having articles almost weekly about the fact he could be recruited for Wales, even though there doesn’t seem to be any official contact yet.
And Hanekom, who has racked up a number of man of the match awards for the Bulls - including against Saracens on Saturday - is now a marked man.
Coach Jake White joked when asked if the confidence the youngster was displaying meant he felt he could face any No 8 in World Rugby.
“I think he would like to believe that. It is like when Canan (Moodie) came through, it's lovely to see them get so much confidence with their rugby, but part of my job is to manage him correctly,” White said.
“He is young, and all youngsters are the same. He needs to be managed on and off the field, he can’t play every week either and that is just because of the age of his physical body. That is the sort of thing we will have to look to as we go forward.
“But I think it is nice that he plays with guys like Wilco Louw, Akker van der Merwe, guys of that calibre around him and that is going to make him so much better.”
'A LONG WAY TO GO'
But White went further to remind those interested that he is very much under contract at the Bulls until 2027 and that the Bulls, no matter what offer comes their way, aren’t going to be inclined to let him leave Loftus Versfeld.
“The one thing we are fortunate in is that we have signed him until 2027 and there is no way that we will release him out of his contract. The way I’m planning is that I’ve got this youngster around for another four seasons minimum and it is our job to make sure he enjoys his rugby and is looked after, that he doesn’t have aspirations of playing for anyone else. It is one of those things.
“I talk confidently that we don’t see him wanting to go and don’t see us letting him go - one season doesn’t make him. He has a long way to go and I think he will appreciate that too.”
White waxed lyrically after reviewing the win over Saracens and said he was incredibly proud of the way the team played against the Premiership champions. The Bulls have sent a team of mostly fringe players to France, but which has some experience as they look to overturn their big loss to Lyon last season.
“I was very happy when I looked at that game again. I can’t remember the last time a team scored six tries against the Premiership champions - three were disallowed and to create those opportunities was very pleasing. Saracens have won the Champions Cup three times and have 20 internationals, and there are a lot of positives we can get out of that, but now it is a massive game away from home in France and I know how difficult it is to win in France as well.
Hopefully this group that we are taking will understand it is a great opportunity for us this weekend in France.”