‘I will play wherever they need me,’ says Stormers utility forward Deon Fourie

Utility forward Deon Fourie of the Stormers is prepared to play wherever his team needs him in their upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. As part of a large group of Springbok players returning to the Stormers, Fourie's position remains uncertain, with a variety of potential deployments possible, including hooker, flanker, or tighthead prop.

Fourie, who recently turned 40, has been the Stormers' premier No. 6 since his return to the team in 2021, but for the Springboks, he has mostly played as a hooker. With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, rising star Paul de Villiers, and possibly Andre-Hugo Venter available, Fourie may be deployed in the front row due to the absence of Venter, who is still recovering from a concussion.

Fourie expressed his excitement about playing in front of the Stormers' home crowd, despite the possible team cohesion challenges after the Boks' recent tour. He also praised rookie hooker Vernon Paulo's performance during the Stormers' recent loss to Edinburgh, emphasizing the need to look at the entire system in the lineout rather than assigning blame to a single individual.