The Stormers and Manie Libbok have reportedly come to some sort of agreement that’ll allow him to take a sabbatical to go play abroad for an extended period.
This is according to an article published in Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, which states the Stormers will allow Libbok sign a lucrutive deal to go play in Japan from December through May.
However, as per a Rugby365 report, the Stormers and Springbok playmaker will not be playing in the Japanese top division because he will join the Hanazono Liners, the Osaka-based outfit currently placed third in Division Two.
It is believed this deal will allow Libbok to boost his earnings while potentially returning for the latter stages of the 2025-26 United Rugby Championship season.
Currently sidelined with a knee injury, Libbok’s availability for the Stormers’ final Vodacom URC league fixtures against Dragons (10 May) and Cardiff (16 May) is uncertain.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Jurie Matthee provide sufficient cover at No 10 for Stormers boss John Dobson.
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