It may just have been 'informal discussions', but Bulls bosses Heyneke Meyer and Frans Ludeke have already spoken to Saracens' Springbok flyhalf Derick Hougaard about returning to Pretoria.

The 28-year-old Hougaard, who has not played for almost a year following Achilles surgery, is keen to return to the Bulls' Kraal.

However, no formal discussions in this regard have taken place.

Ian Schwartz, the High Performance Manager at the Blue Bulls Company, told this website that weekend reports linking Hougaard to a return home may just be "speculation".

"I am responsible for negotiations and finalising of contracts, and I am not aware of any formal talks," Schwartz told this website.

"However, I am aware that Frans [Ludeke, the Bulls' head coach] and Heyneke [Meyer, Executive: Rugby] have had separate chats with Derick," Schwartz added.

According to weekend reports Hougaard was in Pretoria last week, where he had discussions with the Bulls bosses.

Hougaard is currently contracted to English champions Saracens.

It is claimed that he could fly back to Pretoria in the next couple of weeks to complete his rehabilitation with the Bulls instead and he is expected to be fit in January.

However, the Bulls already have on their books prolific Springbok match-winner Morné Steyn, Lionel Cronjé (just signed from the Stormers) and Louis Fouché, a Pretoria-born No.10.

By Jan de Koning