Overview
- The Stormers named a 56-man URC and Champions Cup squad on Thursday and did not include Frans Malherbe, who is training but not expected to play in the near term while he recovers from chronic neck, back and hip problems.
- Director of rugby John Dobson confirmed the club signed Wilco Louw as a like-for-like front-row replacement to protect squad depth while Malherbe’s contract status and availability remain unresolved.
- Dobson and Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus both said they expect talks and medical review to continue into the new year, with January set as the likely reassessment date that will shape Malherbe’s World Cup chances.
- The Stormers also disclosed scrumhalf Imad Khan has an ACL injury and is expected to return around April 2027, a development that affects short-term selection and match planning.
- Malherbe has not formally retired after roughly 18 months out of top-level rugby, and the club says it will prioritise his welfare while keeping the door open to accommodate a short return if medical advice supports it.