The Stormers have confirmed that young duo Dan Jooste and David Kriel will leave the team to join the Sharks and Vodacom Bulls respectively.
Both players were part of the Western Province U21 side that made it through to the U21 Championship final last year and will leave the team when their contracts expire in October.
We will say farewell to youngsters David Kriel and Schalk Erasmus, who will join the Vodacom Bulls, and Dan Jooste who will be heading to the Cell C Sharks when their respective contracts are up at the end of October. All three made good contributions in our junior ranks. pic.twitter.com/SUJB8PANWh
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 29, 2020
22-year-old hooker Jooste made his senior debut off the bench for the Stormers against the Lions in 2019. The dynamic player – who has also represented the Junior Springboks and SA Schools – went on to play four times for the Province senior team and also played for Maties in 2018 and 2019.
Jooste will add to the growing hooker stocks in Durban. The Sharks can already count incumbent Kerron van Vuuren, veteran Craig Burden and understudies Dylan Richardson, Fez Mbatha, Cullen Collopy, Cullen van der Merwe and Jacques Goosen in their ranks.
Meanwhile, David Kriel is set to be reunited with twin brother Richard at the Bulls. An incredibly skilled fullback, Kriel’s departure is a blow for the Stormers as the 20-year-old has already been mentioned by coach John Dobson as a future senior player.
The Bulls lost incumbent Warrick Gelant to Western Province, but with the younger Kriel twins have two players who can fill the fullback gap.
ALSO READ: Libbok to join Sharks
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images