United Rugby Championship: John Dobson extends tenure as Stormers head coach

David Skippers
Stormers head coach John Dobson is eager for his side to finish the year on a high by beating the Lions in the United Rugby Championship on New Year's Eve, completing an unbeaten year at Cape Town Stadium. The Stormers host the Lions in Cape Town, the last team that managed to beat the United Rugby Championship (URC) champions at the ground.

The Stormers have announced that head coach, John Dobson, has signed a new contract which will keep him at the Cape Town-based outfit until at least 2027.

Dobson has been part of the coaching structures at Western Province Rugby (WP) since 2010 and after winning a South African national U21 championship he was appointed as the union’s senior head coach in 2015.

He continued his growth with the WP team and guided them to a Currie Cup title in 2017.

In 2020, Dobson was appointed as the Stormers‘ head coach and led them to victory during the inaugural United Rugby Championship campaign, winning the 2022 final against the Bulls in front of their faithful supporters at Cape Town Stadium.

The inspirational head coach works with a tight-knit backroom staff, who have come with him through the ranks at WP and his coaching unit have a proven record of producing international stars.

Under Dobson’s guidance, the Stormers have become renowned for playing an eye-catching brand of rugby, which is a reflection of the way the game has been played in South Africa’s Western Cape region for generations.

Delighted to sign new deal

Dobson said he is delighted to continue as head coach for the next four years.

“I grew up in Cape Town as part of a rugby family, so this is a dream job for me and I wouldn’t want to coach anywhere else,” he told the Stormers’ official website.

“I have been very lucky to be surrounded by an outstanding coaching and support team and I am very excited about what we can achieve together in the coming years.

“This is a special place and we have a very real connection with the people who support this team, which makes this such a stimulating and rewarding environment.

“The structures we have set up here and the continuous stream of talent coming through in the region will hopefully combine to put this team where it should be among the best in the world.”

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