Brits smiles his way into new Bulls challenge

If there is one player smiling his way through the pre-season fitness tests, it is the Vodacom Bulls’ newest recruit Schalk Brits. With a massive smile he has led the fitness tests from the front this past week, showing that while he is 37 age has little to do with his ability, fitness or anything in the same discussion.

And one thing is clear. Whatever he contributes to the Bulls team this season, Brits is a team man through and through, high-fiving the others after the gruelling sprints and bringing a fresh air of contentment to the Loftus Versfeld turf.

For the man once described by Sunday Times guru Stephen Jones as the “best import ever” into the English club system, the veteran is simply enjoying himself, soaking up the rays and enjoying being back in sunny South Africa.

“This is ridiculous. I’ve got shorts on and am barefoot. I sent a text message to Schalk Burger last week and those boys are literally in the rain, its minus one and its freezing. I’ve been sending the text messages up north,” he laughs as he looks at the scene around him.

But being a 37-year old Bulls debutant has its drawbacks. Brits has been called “oom” (uncle) more times than he can remember, although he laughs it off.

“I’ve caught them (teammates) mid-sentence and they say “hello oo-umm Schalk”. But it is funny, because not in my wildest dreams did I think I would play to the age I am now. I’ve got my first professional contract in 1999 and some of the players only matriculated in 2015/16 so it is quite a different group of players but yes, I’ve been called “oom” in the Springbok squad from some of the players’ wives or girlfriends. So it is something I think I must get used to.”

So far Brits is enjoying his time at Loftus, even though he headed off to his car after chatting to the media with his suitcase in tow, still looking for a place to stay during the next six months. But he has been welcomed with open arms by the Bulls staff and players and that makes a huge difference.

“It’s fantastic. The boys have been fantastic, the coaching staff has been great. The fitness on the first day was something I wasn’t used to, especially at altitude, but it has been great. It has been a fantastic experience the first couple of days and these boys work very hard.

“Luckily my wife kept me fit during the off-season, and we did a lot of running. It has been good, I’m in great nick and my body feels good. But I’m looking forward to the season starting. I know we don’t have a lot of time, everyone from the coaches to the players got pulled in a bit late, but we are excited at where the season may end up.”

While it is well-documented now how he was supposed to end up at the Stormers, but their own contracting system failed to get the cash to sign him and the Bulls pounced, Brits is only looking forward to playing in the light blue jersey this season.

“You know what is nice, is going to place where you are wanted. The Stormers have their problems and I’m happy to be here. I’m with a group of players that wants to succeed and with a coaching staff that wants to learn and get better.

“I am at a union that not just wants to compete but wants to win something. So from that point of view, if we keep on with the work ethic, discipline and with time, this team can perform to the supporter’s expectations.

“What is nice is that we have a young bunch of players and a group of experienced heads that has been around the block a little bit that can help the younger players exponentially as quickly as they can. What I’ve felt in the past what has happened in SA Rugby is that you almost lose your middle-tier of players, and you’ve only got the Springboks and the young guys coming through. And the guys who are supposed to pass on the intellectual capital, you lost them to the overseas market.

“Hopefully we’ve got a lot of different categories of players and hopefully the growth will happen quite quickly. Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of time and we will grow during the season and during the competition but we are very excited at what we can achieve. Everyone looks at results, but we want to grow as a team and have a great work ethic. We will make mistakes but that happens with a new group. Hopefully we can keep this group together for longer than a season but from that perspective we want to achieve this season.”

Either way, whatever happens on the field, when it comes to the Bulls camp this season they couldn’t have asked for a better team man in their growing environment.