Stormers Rugby have made some tactical front row acquisitions by securing the services of some experience and youth to bolster their prop stocks going forward.
The duo of loosehead Oli Kebble and tighthead Hencus van Wyk have joined the DHL Stormers squad ahead of the 25/26 season, while schoolboy stars Jordan Jooste from Paarl Boys High and Joseph Udo Idung from DHS have also committed their futures to the club.
Kebble came through the junior ranks in Cape Town and played 47 games for the DHL Stormers before moving abroad in 2017.
He has been brought in as a trade with Sti Sithole heading to the Vodacom Bulls, and returns to where it all started, adding valuable experience up front.
Van Wyk is another seasoned campaigner who will add significant value as a tighthead prop known for his power and impressive scrumming technique. Given his experience in many different environments, Van Wyk will also provide valuable mentorship to the young props in the system, such as Zachary Porthen, Herman Lubbe and Oli Reid, who all showed their considerable potential in the Carling Currie Cup.
The two junior props are both exciting future prospects who are poised to grow further within the environment.
Jooste played for SA Schools this year, while Idung missed out on selection for the national team due to injury, but is considered a top prospect after a dominant school season. They add further talent to the group of schoolboy stars who have already agreed to join Stormers Rugby from next year.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that having the likes of Kebble and Van Wyk in the squad for the upcoming season is incredibly valuable, while at the same time securing the talents of Jooste and Idung shows that the pathway system will continue to develop the stars of tomorrow.
“Oli and Hencus will add significant depth to our current senior squad. Both players understand what is required to deliver at this level, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact they both have on our system.
“We have recently lost the likes of Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe to long-term injuries, and with Neethling Fouche now in the Springbok mix, it was important to find some experienced heads to come in.
“It is always good to have quality to compete for places in the squad, and they will also play an important role in developing the talented young front row forwards we have here. We have seen the benefit of this approach in the past and expect Oli and Hencus to have a major impact on the younger players who are coming through.
“Jordan and Joseph have both been stand-outs in school rugby this year, and along with the incredibly talented group that we announced earlier in the year, we expect them to keep developing and growing in the years to come,” he said.