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Ex springbok loose Ashley Johnson rejected an approach of the Bulls and I chose to stay at the English club in London Wasps, where he has been based since he left the Cheetahs in 2012.
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Johnson, who narrowly missed a spot on the 2011 Springbok World Cup squad, was one of the first players to be on the Bulls’ newest rugby director Jake White’s most wanted list. However, Johnson rejected the opportunity because it would cause too much disruption to his family to return to South Africa.
His only three test matches were with Peter de Villiers at the Tri-Nations 2011, but he was not considered for the team to go to New Zealand that year despite being one of the fit forwards at the time.
The 33-year-old has one year remaining on his contract with Wasps, but has also been assigned to train a job with the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) once he asks for time for his playing career. It is unclear at this stage what the details of the role might be.
White has been looking to bolster experience in the Bulls’ ranks since joining the Pretoria franchise in March.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that fullback Gio Aplon, 37, had signed with the franchise, joining support Marcel van der Merwe, 29, who returns to Loftus after four years at the French club Toulon.
