Stormers confirm star duo heading for Japan: ‘We couldn’t match their offers’

Pieter-Steph du Toit and JD Schickerling have both signed with Japanese clubs after five seasons with the Stormers.

READ | EDDIE JONES DEMANDS QUICK PUNISHMENT FOR RASSIE ERASMUS

Du Toit and Schickerling made their Stormers debut in early 2016 and will be leaving the country to take up offers in Japan.

Schickerling has been granted an early release to take up a short-term contract, with a view to returning to resume his career with Western Province Professional Rugby (WPPR) further down the line.

GOODBYE | PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT SIGNS FOR JAPANESE CLUB

Du Toit is currently injured and will leave when his current contract is up in November.

Both players are products of the Western Cape and grew up supporting the Stormers, with Du Toit from Riebeek-Kasteel and Schickerling hailing from Villiersdorp.

Du Toit and Schickerling developed their games considerably while representing the Stormers over the last five years and leave as world-class players.

QUIZ | TAKE OUR CURRIE CUP QUIZ AND YOU COULD WIN R1 000!

Stormers head coach John Dobson said that WPPR was not going to stand in the way of what are life-changing deals for the two imposing forwards.

“As much as we would have liked to keep both JD and Pieter-Steph here, there was no way we could realistically match the offers that they received. We wish them all the best and thank them for their efforts here over the years.

“They are both supremely talented players whose commitment to the cause cannot be questioned, which is obviously what makes them such attractive prospects,” he said.

READ | WALLABIES COACH SAYS SIDE ‘LEARNING QUICKLY’ AFTER ALL BLACKS HIDING