Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Wales midfielder Jamie Roberts reportedly poised for shock Super Rugby switch

By Online Editors
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Experienced Wales and British and Irish Lions midfielder Jamie Roberts is reportedly on the verge of completing a transfer to the Stormers ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Afrikaans news outlet Rapport, Roberts is eager to move to Cape Town in a bid to win more game time as he eyes a third tour with the Lions ahead of their eight-match trip to South Africa next year.

Stormers head coach John Dobson hinted at a potential signing last week when he highlighted the midfield as an area of weakness for his side given their loss of personnel through injuries and transfer movements over the off-season.

WATCH – Inside the Barbarians

Video Spacer

World Cup-winning Springboks midfielder Damian de Allende has parted ways with the club and made his debut for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League over the weekend, and JJ Engelbrecht has linked up with the Sunwolves.

Dan Kriel has also jumped ship to join South African conference rivals, the Lions, while Daniel du Plessis currently sits under an injury cloud.

Cover will also be required later in the season if the Stormers qualify for the Super Rugby play-offs, as Ruhan Nel will depart the side to pursue his Olympic ambitions with the Blitzboks in Tokyo.

Dobson stated last year that a British and Irish Lions representative had expressed interest in playing for the Stormers, but he didn’t reveal the identity of the player in question.

ADVERTISEMENT

WalesOnline also reports that Roberts was keen on joining the Stormers last season, but the 97-test veteran couldn’t secure a deal due to financial restrictions.

According to Rapport, however, the involvement of a third party will help foot Roberts’ wage bills.

The move adds to the growing trend that has developed in recent years whereby the Stormers look to offshore talent to bolster their playing stocks in the midfield.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2015, they acquired the services of Huw Jones, whose performances at Newlands were so impressive that it earned him a test debut for Scotland, while former Highlanders second-five Shaun Treeby joined the squad on a short-term deal three years ago.

Jones was reportedly one of a number of foreign players targeted by the Stormers, with Major League Rugby-bound French star Mathieu Basteraud also shoulder-tapped by the club, according to WalesOnline.

Should the transfer from Bath come to fruition, Roberts would join fellow former Lions star Ben Te’o in Super Rugby, with the ex-England international having signed with the Sunwolves for their final season in the competition.

The exact timing of Roberts’ anticipated move south remains unclear, although Somerset Live states that the shift could ensue as early as this week.

That would be convenient for the Stormers, who open their 2020 Super Rugby campaign against the Hurricanes in Cape Town on February 1.

In other news:

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out
Search