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United Rugby Championship

Stormers reveal why Ben Loader is returning to England

Ian Cameron

at Aviva Stadium, Dublin

26 Jan 2025

Ben Loader of DHL Stormers scores his side's first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Tyler Miller/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Director of Rugby John Dobson has addressed speculation surrounding the departure of English wing Ben Loader, explaining why the flyer is returning to the Gallagher Premiership.

Leinster outplayed the DHL Stormers 36-12 in their URC clash at the Aviva Stadium but despite the Irish side’s dominance, Loader provided a standout moment for the visitors, scoring a brilliant first-half try off a sharp Manie Libbok pass that reduced the deficit to 10-7.

RugbyPass revealed last week that the 26-year-old – who joined the Stormers in 2023 after London Irish entered administration – is set to join Gloucester on a three-year deal at the end of the current season.

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“He wants to play for England and it’s hard to play for England from South Africa,” Dobson told RugbyPass at the post-match press conference after the game.

“We’ve got some good youngsters coming through so it was always going to be more like a sabbatical [for Loader]. When they [London Irish] were going down we thought we liked him, and played against him twice in the Champions Cup. He said he can’t commit to us until he knows the rest of his guys were OK.”

Loader has spent two seasons in Cape Town.

“I think he found the London Irish thing very stressful, so it [signing for the DHL Stormers] was always a circuit break for him.”

“He said he wants to get back to England and make a bid for England, and we completely accept it,” said Dobson. “It’s not like we aren’t trying to – or don’t want to – keep him, it was almost always the arrangement if that makes sense.”

Leinster led 15-7 at halftime before a devastating three-try blitz from Dan Sheehan, James Lowe and Jordie Barrett inside seven minutes sealed their victory.

The Stormers didn’t go quietly, however, with Evan Roos scoring a late consolation try, but Leinster’s clinical finishing proved decisive in the entertaining contest. It was the first time that Leinster have beaten the Stormers.