Stormers leave door ajar for Bok’s return

The Stormers would accommodate Frans Malherbe for a “game or two” if the tighthead prop becomes available and wants to build towards the 2027 World Cup.

Director of rugby John Dobson said talks around Malherbe’s future would likely continue into the new year as the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok battles chronic neck and back issues.

The veteran scrum anchor is training with the Stormers squad, which was named for the 2026-27 season on Thursday, but is out of contract and not part of Dobson’s immediate plans.

Bok boss Rassie Erasmus previously revealed that Malherbe could make a return to action early next year, and the world champions would consider looking at him again if fit.

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“I don’t think he has made a decision [on his future],” Dobson said in a press conference after naming his 56-man group for the URC and Investec Champions Cup campaigns.

“My guess, and this may be just a John Dobson guess, is that it’s going to drag into the new year.

“He’s training a lot here, but he’s certainly not going to play for us in the foreseeable future, so we needed to get somebody in to replace him, and there’s still a big question mark on him.”

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That someone was Wilco Louw who, along with fellow Boks Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, has returned to Cape Town but is set to feature for the first time back in the blue and white hoops after the team’s 4 October URC clash at Edinburgh.

“What I hear is that there could be a decision made [by Malherbe] in January,” Dobson added.

“That will determine whether he can make the 2027 World Cup, and then maybe there’s a request that he plays a game or two, which we will accommodate.

“There’s no firm decision yet, but he’s certainly not playing for us in the foreseeable future.”

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