Bok cult-hero Faf de Klerk lined up by URC side after SA return

DHL Stormers boss John Dobson could turn to veteran Springbok back-to-back World Cup winner Faf de Klerk to bolster his squad ahead of the new United Rugby Championship campaign.

De Klerk, 34, joined the Cheetahs to play in the Currie Cup earlier this year after leaving Yokohama Canon Eagles following a four-year stint in Japan.

The 60-cap Bok, who started his career at the Lions and moved to Sale Sharks in 2017, has been in superb form for the Cheetahs, prompting Dobson to explore signing him on loan.

Dobson needs a replacement for Imad Khan, who was cruelly injured in a non-contact incident against the All Blacks, while Dewaldt Duvenage was injured in his last game before retiring.

He has been checking who is available ahead of their season kick-off in Connacht on September 25, and De Klerk is one of the options he has been considering.

Dobson is also considering a move for the one-cap Bok former Bath and Newcastle Falcons ace who is playing for the Boland Cavaliers and started his career in Durban, making his debut against the Lions in February 2014.

In the long term, Dobson is keen to sign Haashim Pead from the Lions, despite Pead being under contract until 2028, after finding game time limited in Johannesburg.

He has ruled out a move to re-sign Herschel Jantjies, who faces an uncertain future at Bayonne despite having another year left on his contract after forcing his way back into the Springboks’ plans.

Given that the new season is just around the corner, it now seems likely that Jantjies will remain in the Basque Country, even though they have been willing to listen to offers for him this summer.

“Loan players are an option, like Faf and Louis Schreuder from Boland. We are looking at that,” Dobson told South African newspaper Rapport over the weekend.