DHL Stormers Lock Salmaan Moerat set to join French club La Rochelle at the end of the season
Generational leader Salmaan Moerat will depart the DHL Stormers at the of the season after being 8 years at the Cape Outfit. Moerat has established himself as a key figure for both the Stormers and Springboks and has faced questions over his form, fitness and injuries in recent years. The 28-year-old Lock has also served as captain for the Springboks , showing how high he is seen by coach Rassie Erasmus. Moerat is a product of the Western Cape rugby system, with the well known Moerat rugby family and came through as captain of Paarl Boys High and the Western Province Under-18 team at Craven Week in 2016. He then later led the Junior Springboks and made his Stormers debut against the Highlanders in Dunedin in 2018. Since then, he has earned 70 caps for the Stormers and captained the team in their first United Rugby Championship fixture against Benetton in 2021.
He has also served as club captain for the DHL Stormers over the past two seasons after the departure of Springbok Prop Steven Kitshoff. Moerat said , “The Stormers would always remain home for him and expressed hope that he could return one day, I grew up dreaming of playing for this team and the memories I have will stay with me forever.” This move will hopefully be a positive one for me as a rugby player and for my family and I’d love to return to play for the Stormers one day.”
The Springbok lock’s departure comes as a huge surprise as he has established himself as a key figure at the DHL Stormers and Director of rugby John Dobson spoke to Rapport and mentioned “while the Stormers weren’t expecting to lose two locks off their books at the end of the season,”We didn’t expect to lose two locks, We have known for some time about Ruben van Heerden going to Montpellier, and then Salmaan got his opportunity.”
Dobson said that the Stormers were in the market to add to their lock stocks, and it’s well known that they tried to sign Cobus Wiese from the Bulls, but the Springbok opted to extend his contract in Pretoria. Dobson said, however, that currently, the franchise is in conversations with a player overseas, but didn’t reveal much more.“We are talking to one player overseas,but its just a conversation at the moment and nothing more. Dobson also mentioned that , “Ruben should be ready in the next couple of weeks and salmaan should be ready for the playoffs , so hopefully we will be full strength by the playoffs and have everyone available to play.”
The move to La Rochelle will hopefully be a new chapter in Moerat’s career, as injuries have denied him of valuable game time and progress over the years. He is still very much in the Springbok coaches plans and hopefully he will be able to be part of the Springbok World Cup squad for 2027. Moerat Is expected to join La Rochelle in July 2026 , however might be involved with the Springboks as well during the Nations cup series in July and the All blacks greatest rivalry tour in August.
