Morné Steyn could be heading back to Loftus Versfeld. Sources close to the Bulls organisation have told Just Plain Sport that the Springbok legend is being lined up for a coaching return to the union that made him, more than two decades after he first pulled on the blue jersey.
Morné Steyn spent 14 years across two stints at the Bulls, retiring in 2023 as the franchise’s all-time leading points scorer. His departure for the Lions that year came only after he had asked to stay on at Loftus in a coaching capacity — then-director of rugby Jake White made clear the senior set-up had no room for him as a kicking consultant or coach, sending Steyn across the Jukskei instead.
The kicking coach position at Loftus has passed through several hands since Vlok Cilliers left the union for the Stormers back in 2014. Cilliers has now departed his role with the French national team following a June 2026 coaching reshuffle under Fabien Galthié, and his name has also been mentioned as a candidate to fill the Bulls vacancy. But sources close to the Bulls organisation say Morné Steyn has emerged as the clear favourite for the role.
The coaching landscape at Loftus also looks very different to the one that turned him away in 2023. Johan Ackermann succeeded White as Bulls head coach in July 2025 and has since led the side to back-to-back URC Grand Final appearances.
“Morné Steyn never really left Loftus – his boot’s still printed all over that place! If this is true, it’s not a signing, it’s a homecoming!” – 🎙️Jay
Nothing has been confirmed publicly by the Bulls, Steyn, or his representatives, and the situation remains fluid. But the chatter building inside Loftus Versfeld points to one of Bulls rugby’s most recognisable figures edging closer to a formal return.
For a Loftus faithful still buzzing off consecutive Grand Final runs, the prospect of Steyn back in the building — even off the field — taps into exactly the kind of legacy the union has leaned on to define itself.
📸 Images via Sky Sports / Bulls Rugby
