Barbarians call on Stormers bruiser

The invitational side has secured lock Ruben van Heerden’s services for the once-off clash at Cape Town Stadium.

Pictured in Baa Baas kit at training in the Mother City, Van Heerden recently earned recognition as the Vodacom URC’s Tackle Machine after recording a league-leading 98% tackle success rate from 171 attempts during the regular season.

The 27-year-old has attended several Bok alignment camps, but remains uncapped and was overlooked for the national squad named by Rassie Erasmus to face the Baa Baas, Italy and Georgia in the Republic over the coming weeks.

He links up with a star-studded group, under the guidance of former Wallabies and Crusaders head coach Robbie Deans, that includes Ireland legends Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy as well as All Blacks Mark Telea, Hoskins Sotutu, Shannon Frizell and Sam Cane.

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The Stormers have announced the exit of a seasoned playmaker and Vodacom URC title-winning pivot among nine players confirmed to be parting ways with the Cape outfit

Stormers bid farewell to Bok champ

The Stormers have announced the exit of a seasoned playmaker and Vodacom URC title-winning pivot among nine players confirmed to be parting ways with the Cape outfit.

In a post on Twitter, the Stormers bid farewell to World Cup-winning flyhalf Manie Libbok, with widespread reports linking him to a possible overseas sabbatical.

Libbok, along with tighthead prop Brok Harris and scrumhalves Herschel Jantjies and Paul de Wet, played a pivotal role in the Stormers’ 2021-22 URC win. Harris has retired, while Jantjies and De Wet join Bayonne and the Vodacom Bulls, respectively.

Veteran Clayton Blommetjies is also exiting, as hooker Joseph Dweba heads to Exeter Chiefs and Englishman Ben Loader returns home to link up with Gloucester. Winger Angelo Davids has signed with the Lions.

Zimbabwean loose forward Dave Ewers has called time on his career.