Winds of change are about to blow at Western Province and the Stormers before they take the field again.
Knocked out of the Currie Cup semifinals by the Sharks at Newlands on the weekend, coach John Dobson’s players will have enough time to lick their wounds as there has been no confirmation of when they will return to the field of play.
As it stands, the Capetonians are only scheduled to take the field in April in the Rainbow Cup – involving the Stormers, Lions, Bulls, Sharks and teams from the UK.
But the South African Rugby Union is eyeing a tournament, called the Franchise Cup for now, in which SA’s franchises will bots before then.
Dobson says: “As far as we know it’s the last weekend in February. It’s such a fluid situation – can’t be easy being competition organisers.
“Saru did well to get this competition across the line.
“We are looking towards the last weekend of February starting with the Franchise Cup.
“I’m not sure who is in that, so we have a few weeks off now to get ready for the next competition.”
As for fresh blood coming in, Dobson says: “In the next competition, we have to look at Kade Wolhuter, David Meihuizen, Nama Xaba will be ready and there are a couple of young props that need to play more rugby.
“We are looking to bring them through in the next compeition.”