Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White has explained why promising flyhalf Manie Libbok was allowed to leave the franchise to join the Sharks.

In a move that has been rumoured for some time, it was confirmed in May that Libbok would leave Pretoria for Durban as he joined the Sharks in what could be an important career move.

Libbok, who has perhaps fallen victim to the ‘utility back’ tag, has yet to settle in one position at senior level, while earlier this season veteran Morne Steyn was primarily backed to start ahead of him at flyhalf.

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However, his departure does leave the Bulls short at flyhalf with Steyn and Chris Smith the senior playmakers in the squad, while former Junior Springbok David Coetzer is waiting for his opportunity to break into the senior squad.

In his ‘No Holds Barred’ series on the official Bulls app, White explained two major factors that led to him deciding that a separation would be best for both parties.

‘A lot of things made me decide that,’ White said. ‘Manie himself was looking at other options.

‘At the time, Manie’s agent came to me and said that there are possibilities of him going to the Sharks. I have always said that you don’t want to keep anybody unless they genuinely want to be at your franchise.

‘The other thing is, I just couldn’t guarantee him enough game time knowing that he plays 10 and 15, knowing what kind of play I am looking for going forward.

‘So, I think it was a win-win situation,’ White added. ‘He gets to go to a franchise that he wanted to go to and also he will probably get more game time there than he would if he had stayed here.’

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Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Image