Ben Loader has targeted a November return to action for the DHL Stormers after the Englishman underwent knee surgery in the off-season.
He scored six tries in 18 appearances for the Stormers in all competitions last season, the outside back having joined the Cape outfit after the liquidation of Premiership side London Irish.
The 25-year-old’s eye for a gap, excellent aerial ability and defensive nous were key to helping the Stormers progress to the last 16 of the Champions Cup as well as featuring in the quarter-finals of the Vodacom URC.
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John Dobson’s charges kick off their 2024-25 URC campaign against the Ospreys next Saturday, as part of a three-week European tour, and Loader is eyeing a strong comeback in his second season with the Stormers.
“I’m about three-quarters of the way through my rehab,” he told Netwerk24. “My goal is to get back on the field. The operation was just for a small cartilage issue in my knee, so hopefully I’ll be back in two months.”
Loader, too, remains confident that the Stormers can be competitive in both the Champions Cup and URC. “We won’t enter a competition without thinking we can win it,” he added.
“With the right work ethic, we believe we can beat any team on any day.”
Photo: Khulani Media