Steven Kitshoff has been with the Stormers since 2011. Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Why Stormers would allow Bok star to head overseas
The Stormers won’t stand in the way of Steven Kitshoff heading overseas if he chooses to do so after his contract comes to an end.
Steven Kitshoff has been with the Stormers since 2011. Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Kitshoff is reportedly set to join Irish club Ulster once his Stormers contract comes to an end after the World Cup next year, and it certainly comes as no surprise that the powerful prop has attracted interest from overseas.
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After loyally plying his trade for the Stormers since 2011, coach John Dobson said they would allow Kitshoff to leave with “their blessing” if this was a direction he hoped to go.
“We will chat to him after the game on Friday,” Dobson told the media on Thursday afternoon. “Whether that’s on Friday night or Saturday. Kitsie is out of contract after the World Cup, he has more than earned his spurs and he has earned the credit to go where he wants to and where is right for him and his family.
“If that’s the case, that he is going to Ulster, then he goes with our blessing. He has respected his contract here and has put in so much on and off the field. Who knows, maybe after a couple of years with Ulster, he will be back here with us?”
Meanwhile, Dobson has laughed off talk that Junior Springbok skipper Sacha Mngomezulu could defect to England.
Sacha Mngomezulu led the Junior Springboks to an unbeaten campaign in this year’s European Summer Series, and has quickly transitioned into the Stormers senior setup with immediate success.
Viewed by many as a player with all the potential to feature prominently for the Boks in the future, reports have now emerged to suggest England head coach Eddie Jones is interested in the prospects of the 20-year-old.
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Mngomezulu holds a British passport through his father, but he is contracted to the Stormers until 2025, and has previously expressed his desire to play for the Springboks.
It seems highly unlikely that the youngster would ever consider switching allegiances at this early stage of his career, but reports of being on the England radar certainly have been noted in South African rugby circles.
However, this talk has also been downplayed by Stormers coach John Dobson.
“As far as I know, he’s got an English passport. He certainly didn’t queue as long as us coming into Heathrow,” joked Dobson in a media conference on Thursday.
“But he’s under contract to Western Province until 2025. I can’t see that [the England move] being a realistic possibility for him. We’ve had a chat to him about the rumours but, no, I think Sacha’s staying put.”
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Mngomezulu and Kitshoff will be in action for the Stormers this weekend
Notably, the supposed interest from England when it comes to Mngomezulu has also led to increased calls for him to be brought into the South Africa ‘A’ squad for the end-of-year tour, and for the Boks to begin integrating him into the national setup sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Mngomezulu will play off the bench in the United Rugby Championship encounter with Ospreys in Swansea on Friday.
Leolin Zas is back from injury in one of seven changes to the starting line-up for the clash at the Swansea.com Stadium, which kicks off at 20h35 SA time on Friday.
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Zas is joined at the back by newlywed fullback Clayton Blommetjies, with Angelo Davids moving across to the right wing.
Dan du Plessis will partner Alapati Leuia in midfield, with Sacha Mngomezulu set to make an impact from the replacements bench, while Paul de Wet is also back in the starting team at scrumhalf.
Hacjivah Dayimani and Nama Xaba will start on the flanks, while the only change to the tight five sees Marvin Orie join captain Salmaan Moerat in the second row.
Springboks Joseph Dweba and Steven Kitshoff have been included among the replacements and are set to make an impact up front in the second half.
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Alapati Leuia, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Willie Engelbrecht, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Sacha Mngomezulu.
