Fester can re-apply for Stormers job

The two coaches who have been guiding both the Stormers and Western Province for the past two years, Kobus van der Merwe and Jerome Paarwater, will need to re-apply.

Van der Merwe and Paarwater will end their contracts at the close of the Currie Cup.

According to the Cape Argus, after this season, no longer will the posts of Stormers coach and Western Province be held by the same coaching teams.

So even though Van Der Merwe may lose his Stormers post, a good showing in the Currie Cup may see him retain that role.

In reality however, Van Der Merwe can hardly be blamed for the Stormers 10th position in this year’s log.

If their points difference had been slightly higher, they would have finished 7th, and the coach has struggled to find consistency with big guns like Joe van Niekerk often not firing, and the front row often lacking the grunt to mix it up with the likes of the Bulls.

A few apt player signings, and the continued development of young players like Schalk Ferreira and Peter Grant could be the better route for Stormers management.

Western Province Director of Rugby, Nick Mallett, is likely to oversee the return of Alan Solomons to the helm at the Stormers.

Solomons guided the Stormers to their sole semi-final appearance in 1999.

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