'Stormers will not let him go'
03/30/2025 01:07 AM
The Stormers are prepared to grant one of their Springbok backs a sabbatical, while keeping another permanently in Cape Town.
Flyhalf Manie Libbok has reportedly been targeted by several clubs, in Japan, England and France.
According to Rapport, a short-term Japanese deal appeals the most to the Springbok pivot and his team recently talked to the club with the Stormers approval.
English Premiership club Leicester Tigers, who are set to lose Handre Pollard to the Bulls at the end of the season, and French Top 14 club Racing 92 are also interested in Libbok, according to RugbyPass.
“The Stormers sometimes use sabbaticals to keep players with the franchise longer, as in the case of Adré Smith [Toyota Verblitz] and like Kurt-Lee Arendse at the Bulls [Sagamihara Dynaboars],” says an impeccable source. “The Stormers will not let Manie go permanently.”
Smith and Arendse are set to return to Cape Town and Pretoria respectively at the end of their teams’ Japan Rugby League One campaigns.
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However, Rapport says the Stormers will not allow Springbok utility back Damian Willemse to join Irish giants Leinster, who are reportedly targeting the double World Cup winner as a replacement for All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett, especially if Libbok is granted a sabbatical.
Willemse is contracted to the Stormers until October 2027 having signed a five-year deal with them in 2022.
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
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