John Dobson has confirmed that Springbok prop Wilco Louw will be going back to Cape Town to join the Stormers.
claimed the Stormers were looking to lure Louw away from the Vodacom Bulls as a long-term replacement for Frans Malherbe, who’s currently receiving treatment for a serious back injury.
Dobson confirmed the report to The Lekker Rugby Pod following his meeting with the player in Port Elizabeth, where the transfer was agreed to.
“Hy’s ‘n Kaapse kind,” said the Stormers director of rugby. “We’re certainly done for this season coming up [2025-26]. There’ll be no new players for this season – that’s an impossibility. I think the discussions are because 1 July was the start of the open season for players who come off their contracts in 2026. We’re not immune to it either – there are some guys who want Warrick [Gelant] who we haven’t tied up yet.”
Dobson added: “[Bulls fans] are safe for this season, but this time next year might be a different story.”
Report has quoted a source close to the player, saying a move to the Cape would be appealing for Louw because of his farm in the Cederberg area and his family who still live and farm in the region as well.
“Nothing is finalised yet,” the source told Rapport. “He’s a family man, but if he returns to the Cape, it’ll be for rugby reasons.”
Louw is contracted to the Bulls until June 2026 after which he’ll then resettle in the Cape to do battle for the Stormers.
