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Neethling Fouche targets Springboks cap after new Stormers deal
By Josh Raisey
Stormers tighthead prop Neethling Fouche has turned down “significant interest from several overseas clubs” to agree a three-year contract extension with the club.
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The 32-year-old has made 88 appearances for the Stormers and an additional 36 for Western Province since joining in 2018 from the Bulls.
A statement released by the Stormers asserted that the prop believes staying in Cape Town “will give him the best chance of representing his country.” This is despite competing for the No.3 jersey with “one of the greatest ever tightheads in Frans Malherbe,” according to director of rugby John Dobson.
Though still uncapped, former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett recently said on RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office that he would like to see Fouche earn a first Springboks cap this year, saying: “As a tighthead prop I think Neethling Fouché is a guy that they have overlooked and I think technically he would be right up there with Frans Malherbe.”
After signing his contract extension, Fouche said: “Every time I put on the DHL Stormers jersey I get quite emotional. This team means the world to me and I honestly don’t want to play my rugby anywhere else.”
“Driving into work and staring at Table Mountain, I don’t know where else you can get that.
“I have rubbed shoulders with some legends of the game here and will keep pushing myself to improve.
“This squad has the potential to achieve great things, we are only at the beginning.”
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Dobson added: “Neethling is an incredible team man and as a tighthead prop is coming into his prime, so we are looking forward to even bigger things from him.
“He competes with one of the greatest ever tightheads in Frans Malherbe and keeps pushing his standards, so it is understandable that many other teams would love to have a player of Neethling’s stature in their squad.
“He is another player that has completely bought into the project here and plays a key role in helping develop the next generation of front-row stars, so we are thrilled to have him on our books for another three years.”
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He reminds me a bit of Jessie Kriel. Hard working player that refuses to go away. Not the most gifted, but work ethic and determination has seen him move up the ranks every year, bit by bit. I'll be stoked for him if he makes it as a bok this year.