Stormers, Springbok lock on the radar of French club

After this past season, the Stormers bid farewell to Ernst van Rhyn and captain Steven Kitshoff, and it’s now emerged that another key forward is sought-after overseas.

According to reliable French publication Midi Olympique, Perpignan have set their sights on signing Springboks and Stormers lock Marvin Orie, who is on their wish list for next season.

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Apparently an offer has already been made, with the club viewing the 30-year-old as a priority target as they look to improve on a disappointing 13th-place finish last season.

Orie has become an integral members of the Stormers team over the last couple of seasons, while he has played in 11 Tests since 2018 – which includes starting in three games last year.

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THE STORMERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN PLANNING FOR NEXT SEASON

While the Stormers will be determined to ensure Orie remains in the Cape, the franchise is also openly looking for various other recruits for next season, primarily in the back three department.

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Coach John Dobson said that a reported increase in the salary cap for South African franchises, as well as a private equity deal for Western Province Rugby, would be crucial for future success.

“The salary caps are now going to be increased and we need bigger and stronger groups,” said Dobson. “We have talented young players emerging in the Currie Cup, but this doesn’t provide an immediate solution to the problem with the Champions Cup.

“If you hypothetically have to play a Champions Cup game away from home with a front row of Steven Kitshoff, Joseph Dweba and Frans Malherbe, you have to have a front row in Cape Town preparing for the next URC game. If we go to Exeter, for example, there must still be a team in the Cape that is good enough to beat Munster.

“In our case it will come in the next year. We are going to do an equity transaction and the investment in players will have to be in the senior part of the group,” added Dobson. Our youth structures and feeding resources are excellent, but we may just need a few more players to be able to compete.

“For that, the salary limits will have to be increased and there must be an investment in the WP. Don’t forget that we did what we have achieved now under administration. If you are under administration, you work within the framework of austerity.”

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