Springboks Fly-Half Manie Libbok is Reportedly Being Offered to Overseas Club Despite His Contract

It’s not the first time that Libbok was been linked with a move away from the Stormers as Racing 92 were reportedly keen on bringing him in to replace Finn Russell before ultimately signing ex-England captain Owen Farrell.

Libbok on the move?

According to a report by Rugby Pass, the Rugby World Cup winner is being “offered around clubs in England, Japan, and France.”

However, Planet Rugby understands that there is no truth to the links to French and English clubs with Libbok keen to at least see out his contract in Cape Town.

The Bok pivot currently has no offers on the table but is weighing up his options in terms of taking a playing sabbatical akin to that of Bulls star and fellow Springboks back Kurt-Lee Arendse. The speedster is currently plying his trade with Japanese club Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars and if Libbok were to leave the Stormers it would be under similar circumstances.

Arendse could still return to the Bulls for the knockout stages of the URC but that will depend on how well his team does in Japan Rugby League One.

Stormers boss John Dobson will still have several fly-half options at his disposal if Libbok were to take a deal in Asia with SA Rugby Young Player of the Year Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on the payroll as well as a utility back and double World Cup winner Damian Willemse while Juree Matthee has filled in rather nicely for the side.

Libbok benefits from the Player of National Interest contracting system which sees SA Rugby contribute to a player’s contract on top of what they earn from their franchise.

This helps South African URC teams keep top Springboks in South Africa and in the case of the Bulls, attract players back to the republic which was the case with Handre Pollard who reportedly had offers from Japan with his contract at Leicester Tigers expiring at the end of the season.

Dobson highlighted the importance of Libbok when the fly-half put pen to paper to a three-year deal with the club last year.

“Manie is one of the best players in the world in his position, but more than that he fits our game model and understands how we want to play so well,” he said.

“He has developed into a real leader in our group and is one of the key game-drivers for us, so to have him part of this growing group that has committed until 2027 is fantastic.

“We have all seen what he can do at our level and on the international stage and at 26 he still has plenty of rugby ahead of him. We are thrilled that he will continue to do his thing in a DHL Stormers jersey and hope to see him reach even greater heights here,” he said.

Libbok added: “It is amazing to be surrounded by teammates and coaches that have such an exciting vision for this team and that is something I definitely want to be part of.”

While Planet Rugby understands that Libbok will be remaining with the Stormers beyond this season, they will be bidding farewell to veteran prop Brok Harris who will be retiring at the end of the season.

Hooker Joseph Dweba, meanwhile, is set to join Premiership club Exeter Chiefs after losing his PONI status with Herschel Jantjies heading to Bayonne and Paul de Wet rumoured to be joining the Bulls.

Ben Loader will return to the Premiership joining Gloucester in an attempt to force his way into the England squad while the Stormers have made two key signings in the form of veteran Bok scrum-half Cobus Reinach from Montpellier and Ntuthuko Mchunu from the Sharks.