John Dobson has dismissed reports linking Jonathan Roche with an overseas move, confirming the centre has agreed to extend his Stormers contract.
Roche qualifies for Ireland through his paternal grandmother and has attracted attention from Irish rugby. His agent Matt Norton said the 23-year-old’s ambition is to remain in the Republic.
He is also eligible for Zimbabwe through his father’s family, and Norton revealed that Zimbabwe approached the former Bishops star two years ago.
Dobson has addressed Roche’s future and absence for Saturday’s round-four URC match against the Scarlets at Cape Town Stadium. Markus Muller starts in a new-look midfield pairing with Wandisile Simelane.
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“We couldn’t consider Jonny Roche because he’s got a concussion,” the Stormers director of rugby said on Wednesday.
“But how a story gets written that says he’s considering Ireland when he’s never considered anything else other than playing for the Stormers and South Africa.
“I’m pleased that was refuted by his agent yesterday. So Jonny is out purely because of concussion.
“We wanted to give Markus a game; he’s only on 14 minutes against Glasgow [last season] so it actually just works out perfectly for us.”
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Roche made his club debut at the end of 2024 and scored two tries in the Stormers’ Investec Champions Cup win over the Bristol Bears last week.
He also featured against the All Blacks during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour and was invited to a Springbok alignment camp last year.
“His extension is agreed. That article was preposterous yesterday,” Dobson added. “He’s got no interest in it. There was no comment from Jonny to say, ‘I’m considering it.’
“He’s agreed to his extension. He’s committed here. He wants to wear the green and gold like all these youngsters here.
“That is really smoke without any form of fire. I think he’s got very close ties to Zimbabwe and he’d love to help them, but that’s not going to happen either.
“The fact that he’s already been to an alignment camp is magic from SA Rugby. It shows he’s on the radar and this is where he wants to be.”
Photo: Thinus Maritz/Inpho
The post Dobbo: Jonny wants to wear the green and gold appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
John Dobson has dismissed reports linking Jonathan Roche with an overseas move, confirming the centre has agreed to extend his Stormers contract.
The post Dobbo: Jonny wants to wear the green and gold appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
