Willem Strauss re-elected unopposed as Blue Bulls president for a third term

Nobody stood against Willem Strauss at the Blue Bulls Rugby Union elections, so he goes into a third consecutive term as president with the backing of the two businessmen whose investment he helped bring in.

Strauss has been president for eight years already. SuperSport described that as the longest tenure of the professional era and reported that the union was in bad shape when he first took over.

He helped secure the investment deal that brought Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe in as investors, and both now hold co-majority stakes in the Blue Bulls Company.

Shareholders back him

Rupert welcomed the result and pointed to the stability Strauss has given the union. "Willem has given us stability, and it runs through the whole ecosystem, from schools and clubs to women’s rugby and the senior franchise team," he said.

Motsepe also congratulated Strauss and said the shareholders were proud of the world-class management structures the union has in place. Support came from inside the executive too: vice-president Ben Eybers backed the re-election and said he had served alongside Strauss on the executive for nine years.

Trophies on and off the main stage

Strauss's time in charge has brought a run of silverware. The Bulls have won Currie Cup and Super Rugby Unlocked titles, and they have reached four URC finals in five years.

The success reaches beyond the senior men's team. The Bulls Daisies have won four national titles, and the Naka Bulle have won the Gold Cup three times in a row. SuperSport noted that the Gold Cup was itself revived under Strauss, as was the platteland rugby tournament.

Strauss is aiming even higher for his new term. He said his goal is for the Bulls to become the world's top rugby club, both on the field and away from it.

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