Kolbe to leave the Stormers after Super Rugby season

18 January 2017 - 16:04 By Craig Ray
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French club Toulouse announced on Wednesday they have signed Stormers fullback Cheslin Kolbe.

The hot-stepping Kolbe‚ who is cousin to Olympic 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk‚ will join the French club at the conclusion of the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Kolbe‚ 23‚ also became an Olympian in 2016‚ winning a bronze medal with the Blitzboks at the Rio Games.

  • 'SA rugby players are as skillful as New Zealanders,' says new Western Province skills coach FeeneyWhen New Zealand skills coach Paul Feeney visited Western Province at the end of last season’s Super Rugby tournament‚ with a view of joining the Cape franchise‚ the burning question Stormers coach Robbie Fleck wanted answered was: ‘Are NZ players better than SA players?’ 

“I spotted this unusual player in South African rugby at the Under-20 World Cup held in France and during which Cheslin blitzed many opponents‚” said Toulouse sporting director Fabien Pelous.

“Since then‚ with his experience in Super Rugby‚ he will be complementing our team as a finisher from deep and out wide.

  • Stormers look to close skills gapKnowing that this year's Super rugby schedule pits the Stormers against strong New Zealand opposition, coach Robbie Fleck will be placing emphasis on skills development and better fitness for his team. 

“Undoubtedly‚ his qualities of speed‚ his stepping‚ his excellent kicking and his ability to contest in the air will be assets in the game of movement that we practice.”

Earlier this week 25-year-old Bulls and Springbok flank Arno Botha signed for Irish province Ulster as the exodus of young SA players gathers speed.

- TMG Digital

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