Bok centre set for WP homecoming?

Juan de Jongh is reportedly set to leave English Premiership side Wasps and is in ‘advanced negotiations’ to make a return to Western Province and the Stormers.

According to Netwerk24, Stormers and WP head coach John Dobson has admitted that negotiations to have De Jongh return to Cape Town are at an advanced stage.

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De Jongh, who recently celebrated his 33rd birthday, has spent the past four years in England after joining Wasps in 2017. To date, De Jongh has made a total 52 Premiership appearances, but has found regular game time tough, starting just three games this year.

It is expected that he will sign a two-year deal with Western Province Rugby and will join the team in July, ahead of their PRO16 campaign. Having won 97 Super Rugby caps in his first stint with the Stormers, De Jongh will add plenty of depth in experience to the team’s midfield, which currently consists of Rikus Pretorius, Dan du Plessis and Ruhan Nel.

Western Province fans have a strong bond with De Jongh, as he starred in their 2012 Currie Cup final win over the Sharks, which broke the team’s 11-year title drought.

It had also been reported that De Jongh was a target for the Vodacom Bulls, who are looking for a centre to fill in for the injured Stedman Gans, but Jake White’s team was turned down.

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