The DHL Stormers have confirmed the signing of highly rated Airlink Pumas loose-forward Willie Engelbrecht on a two year contract.
The experienced 29-year-old impressed with his physicality on both attack and defence playing for the Stormers in the Rainbow Cup last year and the initial stages of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and it has been an open secret ever since then that Western Province were eager to sign him.
His arrival will further boost the growing Stormers loose-forward stocks. The Stormers have lost some big name loose-forwards like Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi in the past year but have more than made up for those departures with the intelligence and science they have put into the recruitment process.
Don’t forget that this time last year Deon Fourie, who has become one of the heroes of the Stormers’ ascension to second on the final URC log and their place in the quarterfinals, was still playing in France and some eyebrows might have been raised when the former WP captain was lured back to the Cape. He is in his mid-30s after all.
However, Fourie has proved a revelation and has been a big contributor to the Stormers’ success from his position on the openside flank.
Hacjivah Dayimani, recruited from the Emirates Lions in the past year, has also been brilliant for the Stormers first as a No 8 and then as a blindside flank once another relatively recent acquisition, the irrepressible Evan Roos (lured back to the Cape from the Sharks), returned from injury.
Former Toyota Cheetahs star Junior Pokomela has also been good when he has played and will be at No 8 for WP on Saturday when they play the Emirates Lions in the Carling Currie Cup.
Success in the URC, as perennial PRO14 champions Leinster have proved, depends on having good depth in most positions, and looseforward is certainly an area where the Stormers are well covered at the moment, particularly if you consider the potential of Currie Cup captain Nama Xaba and his teammate Marcel Theunissen.
Ernst van Rhyn, while covering lock at the moment, is also really a blindside flank, while Ben-Jason Dixon, a young lock coming through, also doubles as a No 7, as does the highly promising Simon Miller.
Right now the Stormers first choice back-row configuration would be Fourie at No 6, Dayimani at No 7 and Roos off the back of the scrum, but Engelbrecht is a versatile player who can provide excellent back-up and next year, once the Stormers add their Champions Cup commitments to their URC schedule, there should be plenty of opportunity for him to contribute.
Engelbrecht, who can play any position in the loose trio, said he cannot wait to rejoin the team he enjoyed playing for in 2021.
“The squad has already achieved some incredible things this season and I am excited about being a part of the future,” said Engelbrecht in the press release that announced his recruitment.
Stormers head coach John Dobson said that Engelbrecht will further strengthen the playing squad.
“In order to win rugby games your forward pack needs to be on the front foot and that is what you get with Willie, so we are looking forward to seeing the impact he makes there,” said Dobson.