Travis Ismaiel heading back to Bulls
Harlequins' Travis Ismaiel during the European Rugby Champions Cup match at Twickenham Stoop, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 13, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU Harlequins. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
The Bulls have announced that they have re-signed Springbok wing Travis Ismaiel after a short stint with Premiership outfit Harlequins.
Ismaiel needs no introduction to the Pretoria-based franchise as he established himself as the incumbent left wing for several seasons before his move abroad.
A Bulls man through and through, Ismaiel has represented the franchise at every level from U19 to Super Rugby with the 26-year-old former Tygerberg High scholar earning 39 Super Rugby caps and scoring 10 tries.
Ismaiel continued to shine at Loftus Versfeld and made his Springbok debut in 2018 against Wales in Washington DC after turning out for South Africa A against the English Saxons in 2016.
🗣️ “I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with my new #BullsFamily as soon as possible.” #SuperRugby
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— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 26, 2020
His national duty had thus come full circle as he assisted the Junior Springboks to glory in 2012 when they won the World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White stated that it bodes well for his team that players of calibre such as Ismaiel can see value in re-joining the team, and is looking forward to working with him when rugby returns.
“Travis is a quality player that I believe has unfinished business in Super Rugby and beyond, so it is great to see him returning to Loftus Versfeld,” he said.
“He has a knack for finding the try-line and has scored some scintillating tries for us in the past so I’m looking forward to working alongside him.”