Ricky Januarie's move to French club side Lyon could potentially pave the way for Francois Hougaard to play for the Stormers in 2012, a report says.
According to Sport24, the 23-year-old Bulls star may be on Western Province's shopping list for next year's Super Rugby season.
Hougaard, 23, is a product of WP - he attended Paul Roos Gymnasium and made his senior debut for the Cape provincial side at 18. He left for Pretoria at the end of 2007.
Meanwhile Januarie’s agent, Craig Livingstone, confirmed that the Springbok halfback has signed for Lyon on a two-season deal. Januarie will join Lyon immediately after the Super Rugby competition ends.
Confirmation of Januarie's departure from the Stormers comes after he was axed from the Bok planning squad, which gathered in Durban on Sunday and Monday.
According to reports, Januarie was in the initial 51-man Bok squad that gathered in Cape Town last month, but when the squad was reduced to 37 recently his name was missing. - IOL