Springbok loose-forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe will continue his career in France for the next two seasons.
The former DHL Western Province and Stormers No 8, who was capped for the first time for the Boks in 2018, Rassie Erasmus’ first season as national coach, and has made six appearances in the green and gold, was among several players released from the Hollywoodbets Sharks at the end of the past season.
The French PROD2 club, Montaubun, ended speculation on where the 31-year-old product of Wynberg Boys High was headed when they announced on Friday that Notshe had signed a two season deal with them.
There had been some speculation that Notshe, who was a revelation in his first season for the Sharks under Sean Everitt, but sadly had his momentum ruined by first the arrival of the Covid pandemic and then a clutch of unfortunate injuries, might return to WP/Stormers, but that was denied by Stormers coach John Dobson a couple of weeks ago.
However, Dobson counts Notshe as a friend and after having a lot to do with the player during his earlier career he will be pleased that he has another gig in the game. Notshe was used only sparingly by the Sharks in John Plumtree’s first season as coach.
LIST OF PLAYERS LEAVING SHARKS
Notshe joins several other players who have been stalwarts of the Durban franchise in the past in either retiring from the sport or heading to a new venture. Flyhalf Curwin Bosch is on his way to another French club, Brive, and Werner Kok will be continuing his career with Ulster. Another wing, former Bok flyer Aphiwe Dyantyi, was announced this week as a new signing for the Bulls.
The well travelled flyhalf journeyman Lionel Cronje, who probably had his best years locally when captaining the now defunct Southern Kings to some remarkable wins in their final season in Super Rugby, has retired, while another flyhalf, Boeta Chamberlain, is joining Dyantyi in linking up with the Bulls after 1 July.
With Bosch, Cronje and Chamberlain all leaving, the Sharks could find themselves in a hole in the first part of the next Vodacom United Rugby Championship season, when the Boks won’t be available as the first games clash with the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, if Siya Masuku gets an international call-up.
With the newly Bok capped Jordan Hendrikse heading to the Sharks from the Emirates Lions, and Siya Masuku now established as a match winner, the Durbanites are well stocked at No 10 going forward, but it is understood Hendrikse will only be available from next January.
Hooker Kerron van Vuuren is another who is leaving, with no destination currently specified, while veteran fullback/wing Anthony Volmink and centre Murray Koster are also heading for the departure lounge.
LIST OF PLAYERS LEAVING STORMERS
While Dobson has done a good job of contracting most of his top players for the next few seasons, there are some heading away from the Cape Town franchise too, the most notable being the X-factor looseforward Hacjivah Dayimani, who is understood to be heading to France. Earlier on Friday it was announced by the French club, Racing 92, that prop Lee-Marvin Mazibuko is to join them.
Additional front row forwards who have been released are Leon Lyons and Kwenzo Blose. Of course, the Stormers are set to be bolster up front during the off-season by the return of their 2022 URC captain and double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff after one season at Ulster. Kitshoff is currently out with a long term injury.
A player who could be sorely missed, particularly once the first choice ball scavenging openside flanker Deon Fourie has retired, is Nama Xaba. The flanker, who was often out injured, which was one factor in him not getting enough game time with the Cape team, has linked up with the Stormers’ arch-rivals, the Vodacom Bulls. Another talented young loose-forward, former Matie star Simon Miller, has already played for the Sharks since moving away during the season.
Former Cheetahs player Junior Pokomela joins the other two loose-forwards at the exit lounge, as does hooker Chad Solomon. Tristan Leyds has been picked up by the Springbok Sevens system.
So far the only Stormers acquisitions from outside the region are the two former stalwarts, Kitshoff and lock JD Schickerling (Kobe Steelers), but there are some players who made the move to Cape Town in the last off-season who a lot is expected of, meaning Hendre Stassen and Lizo Gqoboko, who were prevented by injury from playing much in their first season with the Stormers and more could be seen of them going forward.
The Stormers’ coastal rivals from Durban, apart from Hendrikse once he is available, will be bringing Bok centre Andre Esterhuizen, World Cup winning prop Trevor Nyakane, the talented Lions flanker Emmanuel Tshituka and Leinster and former Bulls lock Jason Jenkins to Durban during the off-season.