Rugby: Du Toit disappoints Stormers by staying loyal to Sharks

Pieter-Steph du Toit yesterday said his future was with the Sharks. Photo / Getty Images

There was a strong ray of sunshine for the Sharks yesterday when Springbok lock Pieter-Steph du Toit lit up the Super Rugby gloom by re-committing himself to the Durban franchise, despite massive interest from the Stormers, the franchise of the 22-year-year old's birth and upbringing.

Du Toit, who is from a farm in the Swartland in the Western Cape, was talented-spotted by the Sharks Academy when he was at an unfashionable school near his family's olive oil farm, and despite efforts from the Cape to reclaim him, du Toit yesterday said his future was with the Sharks.

He also has a younger brother who has been playing for the Sharks XV, also at lock, in the Vodacom Cup.

"Frankly I do not know what all the fuss is about me joining the Stormers," du Toit said. "I have heard the rumours, but the truth is I am a Shark and, never mind anything else, I have a debt to pay to a franchise that welcomed me with open arms when I was a nobody out of school, and then have stuck by me for two years when I was mostly injured. I need to honour that debt, and I want to."

Du Toit played three Super Rugby games for the Sharks in 2014 because of a knee injury and this year, just four, before being cruelly struck down by a similar injury to the same knee in the match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

It was initially feared he would not play again this year and it is nothing short of remarkable that the Sharks medical staff have him on track for the World Cup.

"I am in Durban doing my rehab and have been blessed that the injury is not as bad as it was last year, and there is a lifeline for me to the Springboks," du Toit said. "And that will be with the Sharks in the early rounds of the Currie Cup, and the plan is I will play for a Bok team against a World XV / Barbarians on June 11.

"In the meantime, I owe the Sharks for loyally sticking by me through my injuries, and Durban is where I see my future in 2016 and beyond," the humble lock said.

This will come as a disappointment to the Stormers coaching staff that would have envisaged a dream second-row team of Eben Etzebeth and du Toit. But the Sharks also have a team to rebuild and they see du Toit as one of their foundation stones. The Sharks face the Reds tomorrow in Brisbane before returning home on Sunday.

- Independent News, SA