Springbok star Faf de Klerk lined up for shock URC move
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Wanted man.
Double World Cup-winning Springbok Faf de Klerk has emerged as a surprise option for the Stormers ahead of the new United Rugby Championship season.
The 34-year-old scrum-half returned to South Africa earlier this year following the end of his four-year spell in Japan with Yokohama Canon Eagles, linking up with the Cheetahs for their Currie Cup campaign.
De Klerk could now make another move, with Stormers boss John Dobson confirming that the Cape Town side are exploring the possibility of bringing him in on loan.
According to Rapport, the Stormers are looking for additional cover at scrum-half following disruption to their options in the position.
Dobson confirmed that De Klerk is among the names being considered, alongside former Springbok Louis Schreuder, who is currently with Boland.
“Loan players are an option, like Faf and Louis Schreuder from Boland. We are looking at that,” Dobson said.
De Klerk would represent a significant short-term addition for the Stormers given his considerable experience at both club and international level.
The scrum-half has won two Rugby World Cups with South Africa and previously played for the Lions and Pumas before spending five seasons in England with Sale Sharks.
He subsequently moved to Japan in 2022, spending four seasons with Yokohama Canon Eagles before returning to South African rugby with the Cheetahs this year.
De Klerk has also been making his presence felt since returning home, producing a Man of the Match display for the Cheetahs in their recent Currie Cup victory over Boland.
The Stormers’ interest comes as they assess their scrum-half resources ahead of the URC campaign, with Dobson considering both loan and longer-term solutions.
Highly-rated Lions scrum-half Haashim Pead has also been linked with the Cape Town side, while a potential return for current Bayonne scrum-half Herschel Jantjies has reportedly been ruled out.
For now, there is no suggestion that an agreement has been reached with De Klerk, with the Springbok veteran simply one of the options being explored by Dobson.
But the prospect of the 58-cap Springbok returning to top-level South African club rugby with the Stormers would represent one of the more eye-catching moves ahead of the new URC season.
