Fingers crossed for broken Fourie

John Dobson says the Stormers are “at a crossroads” with Deon Fourie, whose broken leg against Connacht has raised doubt over the Springbok world champion’s future.

The veteran flanker limped off with a suspected broken tibia during Saturday’s 34-29 Vodacom URC round 15 win at Cape Town Stadium.

Making his ninth appearance of the season, the 38-year-old lasted just moments after coming off the bench in the 62nd minute before being helped from the field. A forlorn Fourie was later seen on crutches pitchside and his leg in a moonboot.

“That’s a very serious injury, by the looks of things,” Dobson said post-match. “It looks like a broken tibia. We haven’t scanned or x-rayed him yet… but Keke [Morabe] was out for close to a year with that.

“You’d have to do the maths and realise we’re probably at a crossroads, which I hope is not the case.

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“Often with those things, it depends on the nature of the break.”

Fourie was included in the Springboks’ first alignment camp of 2025 in March, and remained part of Rassie Erasmus’ planning despite his age. He last played for the Boks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final and was still seen as valuable back-up at hooker.

The forward suffered a knee injury while playing for the Stormers in an Investec Champions Cup match against La Rochelle in April last year and only returned to action in late December.

Dobson added: “You’ll remember last year after La Rochelle, he said, ‘I’m not finishing my career in a golf cart’. Knowing Deon, he’s not going to want to finish it like that. Let’s hope.”

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images