The Bulls have confirmed the signing of Kwagga Smith on a three-year contract, with the loose forward set to return to South African rugby after eight years in Japan.
Smith, 33, tore his ACL and meniscus playing for the Shizuoka Blue Revs in May 2026 and has been sidelined since. Medical clearance to return to play has been given for the end of December, and Smith says he is already jogging and targeting an early 2027 return. His wife is expecting their child in January, a factor he cited in the timing of the move.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann worked with Smith at the Lions earlier in his career and was unambiguous about the reunion. "Wherever he goes, he makes a difference, and I look forward to him contributing both on and off the field," Ackermann said.
Smith's record speaks for itself: two World Cup winner's medals (2019 and 2023), the 2021 Lions series, Rugby Championship titles in 2019, 2024 and 2025, Commonwealth Games gold with the BlitzBoks in Glasgow in 2014, and Olympic bronze in Rio in 2016. He has earned more than 60 Test caps while based in Japan, where he joined Yamaha Júbilo — now the Shizuoka Blue Revs — in 2018.
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone said Smith's "work rate, physicality and fearlessness" were the qualities the franchise were looking for, adding that Smith had "never lost his hunger" despite having won virtually everything the game offers.