Jacques du Plessis and Flip van der Merwe will take up contracts in France at the end of the 2015 Currie Cup.

Du Plessis has signed a two-year deal with Montpellier and Van der Merwe will join Clermont.

The offer made to the 21-year old Du Plessis was way beyond anything the Vodacom Bulls could dream of putting on the table, according to high-performance manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.

'Jacques is one of the real upcoming stars in the game and this offer received from France is testament to that,' he said. 'We have been negotiating since June 2014 and he has indicated that he would like to return to the Bulls after the two years. That's good news to us, as he should also be in Springbok contention by that time.'

The Bulls also confirmed the release of fullback Ulrich Beyers, who will join Bordeaux-Begles in France with immediate effect.

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