Dobbo to farm out coaching staff

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson and his coaches are set to visit professional sporting teams overseas as part of plans to revitalise the team next season.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Sunday news outlet Rapport, Dobson is prioritising development for his management team rather than making changes following the Stormers’ rollercoaster 2024-25 campaign.

“Our coaches will visit other sports bodies and be challenged to find new ideas and solutions for the next season,” Dobson said.

Assistant coach Dawie Snyman will spend July with an undisclosed international Test team, while another coach heads to an Australian AFL side for insights on aerial play and team culture.

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Dobson himself will visit English rugby league outfit Wigan Warriors, with the entire coaching group set to study Major League Rugby outfit, the Seattle Seawolves and NFL’s Seattle Seahawks before the end of the year.

The Stormers failed to reach the Investec Champions Cup knockout rounds for the first time this season, and lost a second successive Vodacom URC quarter-final at Glasgow Warriors two weeks ago, but remain one of only two teams to finish in the URC’s top five across all four seasons.

“We have a long-term vision for this club. Under the new ownership they are extremely mature, visionary, professional and want a sustainable model for rugby in this region,” Dobson said.

“We are well positioned to become more competitive and get into the picture for a trophy over the next two to three years.”

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