Despite the sensational club rugby player from Boland, Leighton David, training with the Stormers team, he was not included in the official squad for the United Rugby Championship tournament. Although Stormers fans on social media expressed confusion about the absence of winger Leighton David from the list, Rugby Director John Dobson called for patience regarding this fast player.
This bright athlete from Bonnievale, nicknamed 'Robertson Express' due to his incredible speed, attracted attention during his 40-minute appearance in a friendly match against the Bulls before the season began. This raised questions among fans about the reasons for his exclusion from the upcoming campaign.
David, who is 25 years old, is a former South African triple jumper champion and can run 100 meters in approximately 10.30 seconds. His video demonstrating lightning speed in Boland club rugby caused a stir on social media as he left defenders behind with astonishing acceleration.
His impressive form in scoring touchdowns led to an invitation to train with the Stormers in Cape Town, which culminated in his participation in a friendly match against the Bulls in Paarl. In this game, David scored a touchdown, overtaking Bulls flyhalf Taakir Abrahamas to finish on the try line.
United Rugby Championship
However, John Dobson advised fans to give David time to develop, stating that this fast player is viewed as a long-term project who needs time to adapt to the tactical demands of elite rugby and the URC. Dobson noted: "Robertson Express... this guy is eccentric in every way." He added: "We are going to invest in him. We have seen enough. We made a bet based on some grainy footage and a trip to Robertson, and we think there is something special about him."
He emphasized that it will take at least a year before David can play in the URC this season, but the team will continue to develop him and keep him in their squad. Dobson also pointed out that some aspects of the game that require improvement probably need to be addressed before he starts playing in the URC.
The question of squad depth at the winger position remains a priority for Dobson as the team prepares for overseas URC matches against Connacht and Edinburgh. Dobson highlighted the current situation on the wing, reporting problems for Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe. The expected return of World Cup winner Kolbe has been suspended after he broke his jaw in the second match against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
Kolbe will miss the initial phase of URC matches in October, and over the next month, the squad will heavily rely on experienced players Seabelo Senatla and Leon Jacobs, as well as Mfundo Ndlovu from the Blitzboks. Dobson commented: "I think Cheslin's absence is a blow, since he won't play in the October matches." He added that the team has been somewhat weak on the wing in the last two seasons, relying only on Seabelo and Jacobs. Nevertheless, he noted Mfundo's positive experience in the Currie Cup. "He [Cheslin] is a huge asset for us in terms of playing quality and what he brings to the communities, so his absence for four weeks is a blow. But after that, the season will be long."
