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    Stormers confirm Wiese, Du Plessis departures

    2020-05-22 10:15

    The Stormers have confirmed the departures of forward Cobus Wiese and flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis from the union. 

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    This follows the 21-day window period that gave South African players an opportunity to exit their existing contracts. 

    Wiese, Du Plessis and Pieter-Steph du Toit were the three players who informed the Stormers of their intentions to leave last Thursday, but a deal has since been struck to keep Du Toit at Newlands until the end of the British & Irish Lions series against the Springboks next year. 

    In a statement on the Stormers website on Thursday, it was confirmed that Du Plessis would be joining a Japanese club. Wiese, meanwhile, is expected to join Sale Sharks in England.  

    "Jean-Luc and his family have been a part of the rich heritage of Western Province Rugby, but we can’t fault him for wanting to earn what he would be earning in Japan," head coach John Dobson said. 

    "We also understood that when he came off contract he would have gone anyway, so he leaves with our blessing and we are obviously very sad to see him go.

    "Cobus Wiese has been looking to go overseas for personal reasons and we were going to release him anyway.

    "Both guys have been good for Province and we understood their personal circumstances."

    - Compiled by Sport24 staff

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