Stormers coach: 'We are going to be a sought-after investment'
REACTION: Stormers head coach John Dobson can see a bright future ahead for Western Province and the Stormers after they won the inaugural United Rugby Championship title.
The Stormers edged the Bulls 18-13 in a highly physical Final at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
It’s a massive achievement for the Capetonians as they have been plagued by boardroom and administrate issues over the years.
It was only in October last year when SA Rugby assumed administrative control of the Western Province Rugby Football Union.
“It’s an incredible story,” Dobson told reporters after Saturday’s Final.
“I was in a train outside of Venice before that first game [against Benetton] and we didn’t know what was going to happen.
“Somebody phoned me to say that there was talk of us being pulled out of the URC and that we were going to be replaced by the Cheetahs.
“I had a journalist asking me that question on the train, so it’s an amazing story.”
John Dobson relives the Grand Final emotion 😍#URC | #STOvBUL | #AllFor1 | @THESTORMERS pic.twitter.com/Ke6mI6UStm
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 18, 2022
Dobson is now expecting a few investors to come knocking on the door to build on the Stormers’ success.
“I think if you are sitting as one of the potential investors and see the product that was out there in terms of the result and crowd, then we are obviously going to be a sought-after investment,” said Dobson.
“There is no question people are going to buy into Western Province Rugby, so I am not worried.”
The Stormers coach said his team had a mission at the start of the season to get the Cape Town public behind the team again.
“We were always on the front pages for the wrong reasons and people were disconnected from the team because we weren’t doing well on and off the field.
“It’s not often in life you have a big goal, and you actually achieve it.
“Going around the stadium people were saying thank you and that is so powerful for us.
“We should be thanking them.
“To re-establish that connection is absolutely surreal.”
@rugby365com
This is why we love rugby 🤩#URC | #STOvBUL | #AllFor1 | @THESTORMERS pic.twitter.com/RRsmfl9ET7
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 18, 2022
