Springboks star’s move was ‘not a money thing’ as Bulls set sights on his replacement
Springboks prop Wilco Louw and an inset of Bulls boss Johan Ackermann
Johan Ackermann is disappointed that he will lose Springbok prop Wilco Louw to the Stormers at the end of the upcoming season, but he understands the tighthead’s decision.
Earlier this week, the Stormers announced that Louw would be returning to Cape Town ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, signing a long-term deal to rejoin the side he left in 2020.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a successful stint at English club Harlequins, helping the side clinch the Premiership title before returning to South Africa in 2023, signing for the Bulls.
Louw moves closer to family
He returned home with the hope of reigniting his international career, and the move paid off with a recall to the team in 2024 and has since become a mainstay in Rassie Erasmus’ squad.
While he has been destructively brilliant for the Bulls, he will leave the Pretoria-based side at the end of the upcoming season to return to the Cape to be closer to his family, as his parents and in-laws live in the Western Cape.
Ackermann, who has replaced Jake White at the helm of the Bulls, said that they pushed hard to retain the services of the powerhouse tighthead prop but ultimately, Louw wished to return home and he understood the decision.
“He has proven over the last couple of seasons that he is one of the best, if not the best, tighthead in the world,” said the new head coach.
“It is a big loss. But the person is more important than the game for me. His family is more important. His decision as a father is more important.
“Wilco felt, for personal reasons, he needed to be closer to the farm and closer to Cape Town. It was not a money thing. It’s not like we didn’t fight for him and didn’t want him.
“It’s a decision that we respect, and therefore we can just thank him for what he has done for Bulls rugby – and hopefully this year, for his final season with us.”
While Louw will only be joining John Dobson’s squad next season, the Stormers have made key additions to their front row stocks for ahead of the 2025/26 season with Oli Kebble and Hencus van Wyk signing for the club.
Kebble came through the junior ranks in Cape Town and played 47 games for the DHL Stormers before moving abroad in 2017. The Scotland international has been brought in as a trade with Sti Sithole heading to the Bulls.
Fouche to return to the Bulls?
Meanwhile, the Bulls will be relying on Mornay Smith and Francois Klopper during the early knockings of the URC while Louw is away with the Springboks and are reportedly looking to swoop for a Stormers’ stalwart to fill the tighthead’s void beyond next season.
According to a report by Rugby Pass, Ackermann is weighing up a move for recently capped Bok Neethling Fouche, who made his Test debut against Georgia earlier this year.
The report states that Fouche is wary of the game time he will receive when the new signing arrives and could leave the Stormers despite being on a long-term contract.
The 32-year-old played for the Bulls earlier in his career and could return to his old stomping ground if the rumour is to be true.
However, the prop is still highly thought of in the Stormers set-up and has repeatedly captained the team, which suggests that a move to Pretoria is somewhat unlikely.
