'There was talk we'd be pulled out of the URC and replaced by Cheetahs'

Stormers head coach John Dobson can see a bright future ahead for Western Province and the Stormers after they won the inaugural United Rugby Championship title.

The Stormers edged the Bulls 18-13 in a highly physical Final at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. It’s a massive achievement for the Capetonians as they have been plagued by boardroom and administrative issues over the years.

It was only in October last year when SA Rugby assumed administrative control of the Western Province Rugby Football Union.

Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

The big rig Will Skelton joins us from Monaco this week where he’s on tour with the Barbarians and rooming with George Kruis. He fills us in on the tour so far, hanging out at the palace with the Prince and who’s leading the charge off the pitch. We also hear about his man-of-the-match performance for La Rochelle in the Champions Cup Final, that famous open-top bus celebration and what it’s like playing for coaches like O’Gara and Cheika.

Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

The big rig Will Skelton joins us from Monaco this week where he’s on tour with the Barbarians and rooming with George Kruis. He fills us in on the tour so far, hanging out at the palace with the Prince and who’s leading the charge off the pitch. We also hear about his man-of-the-match performance for La Rochelle in the Champions Cup Final, that famous open-top bus celebration and what it’s like playing for coaches like O’Gara and Cheika.

“It’s an incredible story,” Dobson told reporters after Saturday’s Final. “I was in a train outside of Venice before that first game [against Benetton] and we didn’t know what was going to happen.

“Somebody phoned me to say that there was talk of us being pulled out of the URC and that we were going to be replaced by the Cheetahs.

Your URC Champions: @THESTORMERS 🔥#STOvBUL | Credit: @URCOfficial #URCFinal pic.twitter.com/bdTCKUquPx

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 18, 2022

“I had a journalist asking me that question on the train, so it’s an amazing story.”

Dobson is now expecting a few investors to come knocking on the door to build on the Stormers’ success.

“I think if you are sitting as one of the potential investors and see the product that was out there in terms of the result and crowd, then we are obviously going to be a sought-after investment,” said Dobson.

They came, they saw, they conquered 🇿🇦

The DHL Stormers are URC Champions 👏 #UnitedRugbyChampionship #Stormers #Rugby pic.twitter.com/wjkqDSyP40

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 18, 2022

“There is no question people are going to buy into Western Province Rugby, so I am not worried.”

The Stormers coach said his team had a mission at the start of the season to get the Cape Town public behind the team again.

“We were always on the front pages for the wrong reasons and people were disconnected from the team because we weren’t doing well on and off the field.

“It’s not often in life you have a big goal, and you actually achieve it.

“Going around the stadium people were saying thank you and that is so powerful for us.

“We should be thanking them. To re-establish that connection is absolutely surreal.”