Cape Town - Springbok centre Jaque Fourie is set to stay in Japan and probably won't be available for the Stormers in next year's Super Rugby tournament.
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Die Burger newspaper reports that the 28-year-old looks likely to accept a massive offer in Japan which won't see him return to play for the Cape franchise.
Fourie, who plays for the Panasonic club, was expected to return at the end of March to play in the Super Rugby tournament, but an apparent R22 million offer for two years is likely to keep him in Japan.
With Fourie gone, the Stormers will be decidedly thin in the centre department with Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh the only recognised centres left. This comes after the men from the Cape lost two promising talents in Johann Sadie (to the Bulls) and Tim Whitehead (to the Sharks).
An injury to either De Villiers or De Jongh will leave the Stormers in a precarious position. With Fourie likely not returning, the Stormers brains trust would do well to offer former Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs a contract.
Jacobs's contract at the Sharks was recently not renewed and he has since returned to the Cape - from where he hails - and has expressed his interest to play for the Stormers.
Another option at centre is JP Du Plessis, who played for the Western Province Under-21 side this past season. Du Plessis plays at outside centre and was part of the Melbourne Rebels' Super Rugby group last season.
Click to BUY the SA Rugby Annual 2011
Click to BUY the Great moments in Currie Cup history DVD
Die Burger newspaper reports that the 28-year-old looks likely to accept a massive offer in Japan which won't see him return to play for the Cape franchise.
Fourie, who plays for the Panasonic club, was expected to return at the end of March to play in the Super Rugby tournament, but an apparent R22 million offer for two years is likely to keep him in Japan.
With Fourie gone, the Stormers will be decidedly thin in the centre department with Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh the only recognised centres left. This comes after the men from the Cape lost two promising talents in Johann Sadie (to the Bulls) and Tim Whitehead (to the Sharks).
An injury to either De Villiers or De Jongh will leave the Stormers in a precarious position. With Fourie likely not returning, the Stormers brains trust would do well to offer former Sharks centre Adrian Jacobs a contract.
Jacobs's contract at the Sharks was recently not renewed and he has since returned to the Cape - from where he hails - and has expressed his interest to play for the Stormers.
Another option at centre is JP Du Plessis, who played for the Western Province Under-21 side this past season. Du Plessis plays at outside centre and was part of the Melbourne Rebels' Super Rugby group last season.