Overview
- Roche's agent and representatives confirmed Tuesday that the 23-year-old will extend his contract with the DHL Stormers despite interest from Irish provinces because he currently wants to aim for Springbok selection.
- He is Irish‑eligible through a grandmother and has drawn explicit attention from multiple Irish provinces because that ancestry would allow him to qualify for an Irish passport.
- Roche earned a Springbok alignment camp invite in 2025, a sign of South Africa's interest that stops short of a full national cap but keeps him on the Springbok radar.
- On the field Roche has risen quickly from the Bishops/UCT pathway, scoring multiple senior Champions Cup tries this month and previously posting a Currie Cup debut hat‑trick for Western Province.
- His decision highlights a wider trend of Irish provinces recruiting South African players with Irish ancestry and means provinces may need to compete harder or look elsewhere if Roche follows through on staying in Cape Town.