Frans Malherbe’s three-year contract decision with Western Province should ensure that he will enhance his already legendary status with the union he has played for over his entire career by setting a DHL Stormers record that is unlikely to ever be beaten.
The coup of having the man many regard as the undisputed king of tighthead props in world rugby effectively play for the Stormers for the rest of his career was announced on Tuesday.
The Springbok World Cup-winner has only ever played for one team in his professional career after making his Stormers debut as a 20-year-old and has amassed 126 caps in that time.
Frans Malherbe has only ever played for one team and that's not about to change.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 17, 2023
?? Three-year extension signed
1?2?6? caps and counting #iamastormer #dhldelivers #fransisastormer https://t.co/eggvUrDcu3
Malherbe is only headed at this stage when it comes to Stormers caps by his longtime Stormers, WP and Bok teammate Steven Kitshoff.
But it is nip and tuck, and Kitshoff is leaving the Cape to play for Ulster after this year’s Rugby World Cup, effectively meaning that the current season is his last with the Stormers.
Malherbe will probably be used more sparingly, and saved for the bigger games, as the impact of age take effect on his body and he will require some management, but he should still play enough games to end up with anything from 160 to 180 Stormers caps by the time his career is over. In this age when players move franchises and unions so much, it is hard to see that number of games being beaten.
Of course, the Stormers haven’t extended his contract, and the player himself hasn’t agreed to the contract extension, just so that he can break a record.
There is much more to it than that, and having the experienced and highly respected front-ranker on their books will help the growth of the several highly promising young front-rankers coming through the WP ranks, both at age-group level and within the current squad, where Neethling Fouche has already become a top player and the perfect back-up for the Bok first choice No 3.
As the Stormers press release announcing the contract extension stated, Malherbe is highly respected and feared for his scrumming power, but he also adds considerable value in positional play, defensive nous and general rugby intelligence.
Those who look at Malherbe’s physique and expect him to be the non-entity outside of the primary phases that many of the front-row porkers of the amateur era were always find that they are in for a big surprise.
Stormers head coach John Dobson said that having Malherbe remain loyal to the team was hugely significant to the franchise as they plot what could be an exciting path forward following first the resurrection of the brand and then the seismic achievement of winning the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship last year.
“Frans embodies what we would like this team to be all about. He is already a Stormers legend and will only add to that in the years to come,” said Dobson.
“He is a world class player who adds so much more to our cause than just what he does on the field. He will play a vital role in inspiring and showing the next generation what it means to be a Stormers man.”
Malherbe said he was excited to be staying in Cape Town and also excited about what the next three years hold in store for the team.
“The team environment here is very positive and I want to contribute to building on that and doing whatever I can to help the team continue improving,” he said.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. One thing you can depend on in this crazy world is Frans Malherbe at 3.
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 17, 2023
??? 'Frans embodies what we would like this team to be all about. He is already a DHL Stormers legend and will only add to that in the years to come' pic.twitter.com/j7cGYXFdWY