Stormers secure their future
CONTRACT NEWS: Centre Cornel Smit and hooker Andre-Hugo Venter are the latest talented young players to sign contract extensions with the Stormers.
Both Smit and Venter have made the step-up to senior rugby over the last two seasons and featured in the Stormers United Rugby Championship title-winning campaign.
The 24-year-old Smit represented Western Province at Craven Week in 2015 and came through the junior age-group ranks at the union while also featuring in midfield for Maties in the Varsity Cup.
He made his Stormers debut in 2020 and is one of a number of homegrown talents in the current squad.
Venter is technically still a junior player at the age of just 20, but has already made his mark at senior level.
The son of Springbok legend Andre Venter has shown a maturity beyond his years and featured prominently at the business-end of the United Rugby Championship, scoring a crucial try in the Final in Cape Town.
Stormers Coach John Dobson is looking forward to seeing further growth from both of these players in the years to come.
“Cornel is a smart player who is poised to take his career to the next level, so we are glad that will be here where he has played all of his rugby,” Dobson said.
“Andre-Hugo is an immensely exciting prospect who has a very bright future ahead of him. We are thrilled to keep both of these players in our system and expect big things of both of them,” he added.
Smit said that he is delighted to extend with the team he grew up supporting.
“As a local boy I always dreamed of playing for the Stormers and it is great to have the backing of the coaches going forward,” he said.
Venter is keen to build on what he has already achieved in a short time in Cape Town.
“I could not be happier with where I am with my rugby at the moment. I was really backed after coming back from injury this season and I want to contribute as much as I can to the team in the seasons ahead,” he said.
