Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Bulls have signed Springbok flank Nizaam Carr, who returns to the province after a year, following English Premeriship club Wasps’ administrative collapse.
Wasps went under administration, which rendered Carr and fellow South Africans Vincent Koch, Burger Odendaal and Francois Hougaard out of contract.
With Koch being linked to the Sharks, after singing with Stade Francais as a medical joker, the Bulls were quick to snap Carr up to fill one of a loose forward slots that skipper Marcell Coetzee will soon vacate when he goes to Japan.
Carr captained the Bulls during the SA Rugby Preparation Series in March last year before leaving for Europe again for a second spell with Wasps.
The Bulls lost last season’s United Rugby Championship (URC) final to the Stormers in Cape Town in June, something Carr said he dreamed of putting right.
“I had a few options but what ran through my mind was the culture at the Bulls, the mindset of wanting to get better every day,” said Carr.
“There are obviously some quality coaches, who are helpful with you and make you feel welcome.
“Because I’d worked with the Bulls, I knew what I was heading into and that gave me the most confidence to [try] bring the URC home. That’s the dream and goal.
“That’s what I had in mind when I made the decision to come back.”
The Bulls also signed tighthead Wilco Louw from English Premiership side Harlequins, who will join in July 2023, another Springbok that will beef up their pack.
Carr said the allure of working with 2007 World Cup-winning former Springbok coach Jake White, now the Bulls director of rugby, again was why he chose to go back to Pretoria, although he had other offers elsewhere.
“I said to Jake and (Bulls CEO) Edgar [Rathbone] that I’m really excited to join. I’m coming with a lot of ambition and I’m going to do my best to bring the URC home,” Carr said.
“There’s obviously a lot of competition locally and some good sides overseas. But I want to tick that box.
“But this will be a collective effort … if we can all buy in and just give our best, I think everything else will take care of itself.
“Working with Jake two years ago made me a better player in terms of how to approach things. He shows belief in all the boys.
“On the field, we play with so much confidence and that’s because of Jake. After winning the World Cup in 2007, who wouldn’t want to work with such a great coach?”
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