Springboks and Ulster loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff is reportedly set to leave Ulster earlier than expected to make a return to the Stormers, as per a report in a South African newspaper. The report indicates that Kitshoff, who previously captained the Stormers to victory in the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) in 2022, is in talks to rejoin his former team, who recently received a significant cash injection from Red Disa, their equity partner. A recent sighting of Kitshoff with Stormers boss, John Dobson, at a restaurant in Cape Town sparked discussions of an early return for the two-time Rugby World Cup winner.
Despite joining Ulster on a three-year contract for the 2023/24 season after the Stormers fell short in the 2022/23 URC final, Kitshoff seems to be on the verge of moving back to his original club after just one season with Ulster. The timing for negotiating Kitshoff's exit from Ulster seems favorable due to significant changes within the Belfast-based team, including the departure of head coach Dan McFarland last month and the resignation of chief executive Jonny Petrie the previous week. A reliable source informed the newspaper that the Stormers would be thrilled to welcome Kitshoff back to their squad.
The source mentioned that while it was always understood that Kitshoff would return to the Stormers at some point, the timing of his return is now being considered. Kitshoff's return is anticipated to provide a much-needed boost for the Stormers, who currently face a shortage of loosehead props due to injuries to key players. Additionally, Kitshoff's success at the international level with the Springboks will likely prompt the Stormers to seek financial support from SA Rugby to expedite his return to Cape Town.
Having made his international debut in 2016 and played a crucial role in South Africa's World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, Kitshoff's experience and skill set will be invaluable for the Stormers. Throughout his career, Kitshoff has achieved success both domestically in South Africa with Western Province and internationally during his stint with Bordeaux-Bégles in France.
