Malcolm Marx could be heading back to South Africa, with the Bulls having already opened informal discussions with the World Rugby Player of the Year, according to Rapport. The hooker has been based in Japan with Kubota Spears since 2019, but the Bulls' hooker depth is set to thin following Esethu Mnebelele's expected move to the Sharks later this year. Marx worked under Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann during his time at the Lions and would slot into a squad that currently lists Johan Grobbelaar, Juann Else, Juandré Schoeman, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden as hooker options. A source close to the Bulls cautioned that landing Marx will not be straightforward: "I think the competition for Malcolm will be very fierce."
The Bulls face a tougher challenge retaining Embrose Papier and Canan Moodie beyond June 2027. Sale Sharks are among the clubs willing to pay significantly for Papier, who spent three months on loan at the English club in 2019-20. A source told Rapport the Bulls' efforts to keep the 29-year-old are likely to fall short, adding that his limited involvement in the Springbok setup compounds the pressure: "It's definitely a risk, especially with the cold shoulder from the Boks. The Bulls are fighting hard." Papier featured against Scotland during last month's Nations Championship Tests before being released back to the Bulls.
Moodie, 23 and in the final year of his contract, is weighing interest from Japan alongside other overseas offers. The trend is well established — Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lukhanyo Am and Grant Williams have all committed to Japanese clubs in 2026 — and those departures are expected to factor into Moodie's thinking. "Canan will also have a hard time staying with the Bulls," a source told Rapport.