The Stormers are reportedly working hard behind the scenes to secure the services of a colossal Springbok and get him released from his current contract early.
According to Rapport, the Stormers are attempting to lure Bok tighthead Wilco Louw to Cape Town as they look for a long-term replacement for Frans Malherbe.
Malherbe, 34, has been out of rugby for the best part of a year due to a back injury and it’s still uncertain if or when he’ll return to the playing field. Newly-capped Springbok Neethling Fouche is currently the first-choice tighthead for the Stormers, but there’s very little quality back-up at the moment.
Rapport has quoted a source close to the player, saying a move to the Cape would be appealing for Louw because of his farm in the Cederberg area and his family who still live and farm in the region as well.
“Nothing is finalised yet,” the source told Rapport. “He’s a family man, but if he returns to the Cape, it’ll be for rugby reasons.”
Louw is no stranger to the Stormers, having caught the eye during his stint in Cape Town between 2015 and 2019.
The 133kg juggernaut has played 18 Tests and is in line to play a starting role in the Boks’ Rugby Championship campaign.
He’s currently contracted to the Vodacom Bulls until June 2026.
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Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks future to be decided imminently with ‘two overseas’ clubs looming
Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby (SARU) are continuing discussions to extend the Springboks head coach’s contract beyond the 2027 Rugby World Cup, according to reports.
Erasmus has been part of the Springboks coaching staff since 2018, leading South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in 2019 as head coach and director of rugby.
In 2020, Jacques Nienaber took over as head coach with Erasmus focusing on his director of rugby role. When the former departed to Leinster after successfully defending the World Cup title in 2023, Erasmus was reinstated as head coach.
Talks gather momentum
The 52-year-old’s contract with SA Rugby expires after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and according to Rapport, two overseas teams are interested in Erasmus’ services, which led to the ramping up of contract negotiations for the head coach and his coaching team.
The report adds that the double World Cup-winning coach not only wants certainty around his future beyond Australia 2027 but also for his Springboks assistants, whose contracts all expire at the same time.
SARU and Erasmus are currently ironing out the finer details of the deal, the report adds, while it adds that on the recommendation of the executive committee, CEO Rian Oberholzer has been offered an extension of his contract until 2028.
It is understood that Oberholzer and Erasmus have a good working relationship with the former not interfering with his team selections and providing the coach with as much freedom as possible in his role.
Under the CEO’s stewardship, SA Rugby’s finances have boomed, as have the performances on the pitch with the Springboks defending their Rugby World Cup title while the Junior Boks won the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time in 13 years. The Blitzboks are also the current World Rugby SVNS champions
Erasmus’ record
During his two stints as head coach, Erasmus has taken charge of 42 Test matches with the Springboks and boasts a 73.8% win ratio, the sixth best in the history of the team.
Of the coaches who have overseen at least five Test matches, only Kitch Christie (100%), Cecil Moss (83.3%), Nelie Smith (80%), Ian Kirkpatrick (76.9%) and Danie Craven (73.9%) have better success rates than Erasmus, who has been in charge for at least 19 Tests more than those ahead of him
The report does not name the two clubs that are interested in Erasmus’ services, but considering his success with the Boks, which includes two Rugby Championship titles, a British and Irish Lions Series win and back-to-back World Cup successes, he is bound to attract more suitors if SA Rugby fail to extend his contract.
The same would be true for his assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick, Daan Human, Felix Jones, Jerry Flannery, Deon Davids, and Tony Brown, as well as roving coach Duane Vermeulen and National Laws Advisor Jaco Peyper.
After beating the Barbarians, Italy (twice) and Georgia during the mid-year internationals, the Springboks’ focus now turns to defending their Rugby Championship title with back-to-back matches against the Wallabies in South Africa up first.
