The Stormers have announced the departure of 15 players following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 United Rugby Championship campaign, and the list is headlined by loose Hacjivah Dayimani.
The 26-year-old Dayimani will not turn out for the Stormers in front of their faithful supporters in Cape Town again, now that his four-year active stint with the union is over.
The versatile loose forward, who can play across the back row, is still contracted to the Stormers until the end of the 2024/25 season, but union is believed to have waived a fee any buyout for him in good faith.
Dayimani played in integral role in the Stormers’ run to back-to-back Vodacom URC finals in 2022 and 2023 and was the standout performer in the first half of the recently concluded season, which led many to assume that he might make the Springbok cut this year.
STORMERS ACE WAS OVERLOOKED FOR SPRINGBOK DUTY
Unfortunately for Dayimani, he has missed out on a place in the Springbok alignment camps and the latest training camp in Pretoria, which has prompted his soon to be confirmed move abroad.
Dayimani has been linked with a move to Top 14 giants Racing 92, who also has current Springbok captain Siya Kolisi on their payroll.
Other high profile players who are set to leave the Stormers are Nama Xaba, Junior Pokomela, Tristan Leyds and Godlen Masimla.
Loose forwards Xaba and Pokomela have both been linked with shock moves to Jake White’s Bulls, who have also already signed Cornel Smit from their rivals ahead of next season.
DAYIMANI LEADS STORMERS PLAYER EXODUS
- Hacjivah Dayimani
- Nama Xaba
- Junior Pokomela
- Tristan Leyds
- Lee-Marvin Mazibuko
- Leon Lyons
- Kwenzo Blose
- Mnombo Zwelendaba
- Cornel Smit
- Chris Hollis
- Chad Solomon
- Godlen Masimla
- Kade Wolhuter
- Jarrod Taylor
- Simon Miller