Stormers

Neethling Fouche of the Stormers. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Stormers star shares emotional story ahead of Bulls derby

Powerful Stormers prop Neethling Fouche has shared a special personal anecdote ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Bulls.

Stormers

Neethling Fouche of the Stormers. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

The Stormers, Sharks and Bulls will have everything to play for on Saturday in a tough round of United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals – their biggest challenge of the season so far.

Defending champions, the Stormers, will host the Bulls in an all-South African quarter-final and a repeat of last year’s final in Cape Town on Saturday at 15h30, while the Sharks will line up against Leinster in Dublin at 18h00.

ALSO READ: Springboks release statement on Siya Kolisi injury

Ahead of the massive North-South derby, Stormers prop Neethling Fouche took to Twitter to share a personal story that remains close to his heart.

“A nice little story: When we and my wife started dating back in 2012 her dad didn’t speak to me at all for the first 6 months,” he wrote. “Only a handshake when I would arrive and a nod when I would leave. Nothing inbetween. See, he was a massive Stormers/Western Province supporter (massive as in he had season tickets at Newlands and was a miner in Rustenburg).He would fly in at least once a month to go and support his beloved team.

“Now the problem back then was I was a junior at the bulls and he didn’t really have much love for any bulls player/supporter. The worst possible outcome happened for him when his daughter brought home a bulls player. So he punished me with the silent treatment and only referred to me as “Janca’s friend”. Eventually I think he saw I wasn’t too bad a bloke and started chatting to me.

“He regularly asked me why I don’t just sign with his team because then all in the world would be just ‘reg’! For years he would say “Neets, imagine yourself in that Stormers jersey, ek kry sommer hoendervleis”. I didn’t ever see it honestly, I didn’t think that was in my story.

“Over time Oom Pruim became one of my best friends. In March 2017 he passed away of a sudden heart attack. 1 month later I signed a contract with his beloved Western Province or WeePee as he would say.

“When I pull on the Stormers jersey before a game I always get a bit emotional. I used to think “I wish Oom Pruim could see me run on for his team”. I now know that he is watching and cheering from above. His “skoonseun” is playing for the Stormers.

“With another big North-South tomorrow I know there will be a massive watch party up top. He is the man in the photo below, with my wife in his arms.”

ALSO READ: Stormers vs Bulls — URC stats, facts and key history

“Just on a side note: This tweet is not intended to take on/shame the bulls/bulls support in any way,” Fouche added. “I enjoyed my time at the bulls and learned so much about the game. Just a story I wanted to share, please don’t hate.”

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HOW THE STORMERS AND BULLS WILL LINE UP:

Stormers – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c).
Subs:16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Lionel Mapoe

Sharks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrant Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Nevaldo Fleurs, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

ALSO READ: SA Rugby chief Mark Alexander plays down exit talk

MATCH INFORMATION:

Stormers v Bulls
Date: Saturday, 6 May
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 15h30
Referee: Jaco Peyper
TV: SuperSport

ALSO READ: Springboks release statement on Siya Kolisi injury