Irish provinces on red alert as South African centre considers switch

Stormers inside centre Jonathan Roche, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has put Irish Provinces on red alert after it has been revealed that he is weighing up a switch of international allegiance.

Cape Town-born Roche, 23, qualifies for an Irish passport through his grandmother on his father’s side of the family.

A physical, direct, and highly competitive midfielder who can also play 13, Roche was part of the Stormers side that played the All Blacks on the Greatest Rivalry Tour this summer.

He could become the long-term successor to Bundee Aki or Robbie Henshaw, who are both nearing the end of their careers, aged 36 and 33.

A product of Bishops Diocesan College and the University of Cape Town pathway, Roche rose rapidly through the ranks and received an invitation to a Springbok alignment camp in 2025.

He captained a strong Bishops side that thumped Paul Roos and put 50 points past Rondebosch in the COVID-curtailed 2021 season, and scored a hat-trick for Western Province on his Currie Cup debut against the Griffons two years ago.

Rated as one of South Africa Rugby’s brightest centre prospects, Roche scored his first two senior tries in the 49-12 Champions Cup win over the Bristol Bears last weekend, but he is now weighing up future options, including a move to Ireland.

South African youngsters are becoming popular in Ireland, with Ulster snapping up versatile back Rynard Gordon, who is Irish-qualified with family from Belfast and, like Roche, played for Bishops Rugby.

South African under-18 flanker Josh Neill, who played club rugby for Western Province before joining Leinster’s Academy intake early this year, is already tipped to become a future Ireland cap.

He quickly made an impact, scoring six tries in nine games in the U20 Six Nations Championship and the World Rugby Junior World Championship.