For a long time the lack of an international class flyhalf to supplement the star quality in other positions was seen as one of the reasons the DHL Stormers couldn’t make the breakthrough to winning a major trophy, but those days are gone.
Not only will the Stormers have a top flyhalf to call on for the next three seasons building up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, you could easily say they will have two. The announcement that Manie Libbok has signed on for another three seasons follows just a few weeks after a similar announcement was made around Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who is considered by many as the heir to the incumbent Springbok flyhalves Libbok and Handre Pollard.
There was interest expressed in Libbok from France last season, but he opted to stay in the Cape, and has now committed himself long term to the franchise that effectively kick-started a career that was struggling to get going at first the Bulls and then the Sharks. With Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu both available to him, Stormers head coach John Dobson will arguably have the best two locally based pivots on his books. Jurie Matthee is no slouch either and has a lot of promise, while of course Damian Willemse has worn the Springbok No 10 with some success.
Both Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu can of course play other positions, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu, probably long term the more reliable place-kicker of the pair, possibly in line to wear the No 12 jersey for the final Vodacom United Rugby Championship league fixture against the Emirates Lions and then into the playoff rounds following the injury that will sideline Willemse.
Libbok can also play fullback, so there is utility value in both and that also means there are ways to include both in the starting team when it is deemed necessary.
Libbok would have already signed when the announcement about Feinberg-Mngomezulu was made as it is understood there is a backlog of announcements to be made about players who have already committed pen to paper for the next three years. The Stormers had to hold back until their equity deal with the Red Disa consortium was finalised.
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Feinberg-Mngomezulu is highly rated and regarded by some as a likely flyhalf for the Boks in Australia in 2027, but he still has it all to do as the 22-year-old is still at an embryonic stage of his career. Libbok though has become a world class operator in the Stormers environment and developed well as an international player for the Springboks last year.
He was the top points scorer in the first two years of the URC, and was voted Vodacom URC Fans Player of the Season in 2022/23. Given the X-factor he brings and the pivotal role he plays in the Stormers’ attacking game, the Stormers supporters will be pleased to know that for the next few seasons they can continue their chants of “Manie, Manie, Manie…” when he lines up a kick at his home ground of DHL Stadium.
Apart from Libbok, three other top players in Ruben van Heerden, Evan Roos and Dan du Plessis have committed to 2027 and more announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Established star Willemse committed to 2027 some time back in what at the time was seen as a groundbreaking long term contract for the Stormers.
Dobson said in a press release issued on Thursday that having Libbok in his squad for another three years is a huge boost for the Stormers.
“Manie is one of the best players in the world in his position, but more than that he fits our game model and understands how we want to play so well,” said Dobson.
“He has developed into a real leader in our group and is one of the key game-drivers for us. So to have him as part of our group until 2027 is fantastic. We have all seen what he can do at our level as well as on the international stage and at 26 he still has plenty of rugby ahead of him.” Libbok said that he is looking forward to seeing what the Stormers can achieve over the next three years.
“Moving to the Stormers had a big positive impact on my career and I want to continue to grow my game here,” said the flyhalf.
“It is amazing to be surrounded by teammates and coaches that have such an exciting vision for this team and it is something that I definitely want to be part of.”