Cape Town - The Stormers may call on England Sevens player Mat Turner to solve their lack of depth at wing for the Super Rugby season.
The Cape Times understands that Turner, a Bishops old boy who has played for UCT before, trained with the Stormers in Bellville on Monday and is currently being evaluated by the coaches.
He does not have a contract with Western Province, but Stormers bosses Gert Smal and Allister Coetzee have stated in recent weeks that they are on the lookout for a wing recruit for Super Rugby, especially with Currie Cup star Seabelo Senatla tied up on duty with the Springbok Sevens side until mid-May.
The 27-year-old Turner has been linked with the Stormers in the past, but a deal never materialised. He qualified for the England Sevens team in 2009 on ancestral grounds.
It is believed that the Stormers still hope to bring back last year’s Samoan wing recruit Sailosi Tagicakibau, but he is currently contracted to English club Wasps.
Dillyn Leyds and EW Viljoen started at wing in last week’s opening warm-up game against SWD, with Kobus van Wyk the likely first-choice No 14 when Super Rugby kicks off for the Stormers on February 14 against the Bulls at Loftus.
In terms of Friday’s second friendly against the Cheetahs at Newlands (7pm kickoff), Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi have been ruled out, but Eben Etzebeth is set to play.
Springbok loose forwards Carr (viral infection) and Kolisi (hamstring) missed last week’s 34-3 win over the SWD Eagles in George, and it was hoped that they would be ready by Friday.
But the Stormers announced night that Carr will undergo conditioning work this week, while Kolisi still needs further rehabilitation.
Jaco Taute (knee), Frans Malherbe and Ruan Botha (both ankle) are also not yet ready to play, but locks Etzebeth and Jean Kleyn are set to return for the Cheetahs clash.
Meanwhile, Bok prop Frans Malherbe could be on his way to one of two French clubs, Toulouse or Toulon, after this year’s Rugby World Cup. Malherbe is contracted to WP until the end of this season.
French newspaper Midi Olympique stated on Monday that Toulouse and Toulon have made approaches to Malherbe, but the player’s agent Hilton Houghton told the Cape Times on Monday night that the clubs had not contacted him as yet.
Houghton said that he will be meeting with WP on Thursday to discuss the futures of both Malherbe and Siya Kolisi, who has also been linked with a move to France in recent weeks and comes off contract at WP at the end of this season as well.
WP director of rugby Gert Smal told the Cape Times on Monday night that the reports were “pure speculation!”.
Cape Times