Stormers leave key trio out of tour squad
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Stormers have left three key players behind, as they headed off on a three-match United Rugby Championship tour to Italy and Wales.
Coach John Dobson named a 28-man squad that will depart Cape Town on Monday.
Having started their URC title defence with home wins against Connacht and Edinburgh, the next three weeks will see them face Zebre Parma, Ospreys and Cardiff on the road.
Missing from the tour squad are fullback Clayton Blommetjies, flank Deon Fourie and hooker Joseph Dweba.
Blommetjies is getting married and will sit the trip out.
Fourie and Dweba have traveled extensively with the Springboks in recent weeks and are being rested as part of the team’s ‘rotation policy’.
Also missing are two Springbok props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe – neither of whom featured in last weekend’s win over Edinburgh.
Sazi Sandi, who was red-carded in the Stormers’ 34-18 victory over Edinburgh this past weekend, has also been left home.
He will face an automatic disciplinary hearing and is likely he could face a ban – despite the contentious nature of the red aced card.
Stormers coach John Dobson said that the squad is looking forward to the different challenges they will face in Europe.
“This is a very important tour for a few different reasons and we want to make sure we keep building,” Dobson said.
“Our opening two wins have got us off to a good start, but we need to show that we can do the job away from home as well.
“There are a few players in this group who are hungry to make their mark, so this will be a good opportunity for them to show what they can do going forward,” he added.
Stormers touring squad: Kwenzo Blose, Angelo Davids, Hacjivah Dayimani, Paul de Wet, Ben-Jason Dixon, Dan du Plessis, Willie Engelbrecht, Neethling Fouche, Brok Harris, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Herschel Jantjies, Alapati Leuia, Manie Libbok, Godlen Masimla, Salmaan Moerat, Sacha Mngomezulu, Marvin Orie, Junior Pokomela, Evan Roos, Adre Smith, Chad Solomon, Marcel Theunissen, Ernst van Rhyn, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ali Vermaak, Damian Willemse, Nama Xaba, Leolin Zas.
