Kolbe to Stormers is 'impossible'
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers head coach John Dobson said there is no way his franchise can afford to bring Cheslin Kolbe back to Cape Town.
After weeks of speculation, Toulon confirmed that Kolbe will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
The speedster still had one more year left on his contract, but he is now set to look for greener pastures due to “financial constraints” in France.
In an interview with Cape Talk’s John Maytham, Dobson was asked if Kolbe could be heading to Cape Town.
“They released his offer to us last week and they came back with a number that was probably the GDP of Lesotho,” said Dobson.
Dobson said his team is short on outside backs, especially after Seabelo Senatla suffered a serious arm injury in a car accident earlier this month.
“We are in administration and that number is just impossible, but we definitely need to strengthen our outside backs.
“With [Seabelo] Senatla’s serious injury, we are paper thin in that area; those two centres are overplayed. We are scrambling for two backs.”
#ICYMI: Stormers head coach John Dobson is hoping he will have a “meaner and bigger” squad next season 👇#URC #ChampionsCup #Stormers #SouthAfrica https://t.co/sflDYobY2V
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 30, 2023
Meanwhile, captain Steven Kitshoff is leaving the franchise for Ulster and Dobson was asked if there are other big names leaving Cape Town.
“No, Ernst van Rhyn is going to Sale [Sharks] and Kitsie, you can’t replace the irreplaceable. We’ve got Sti Sithole coming from the Lions and we are working on another prop.
“We have two or three but we [Western Province Rugby Union] actually need the equity deal because we are in administration.
“My feeling is things are going to have to move very quickly otherwise we could miss them [new signings] next season.”
#ICYMI: Toulon confirmed that World Cup-winning Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe will be leaving the club. 👇#SouthAfrica #Springboks #RWC2023 https://t.co/v7Wd6tzXsB
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 30, 2023
