Springbok star Damian de Allende playing with more freedom, eyes Stormers return
Image: BackpagePix
Damian de Allende has this strong urge to end his illustrious career under Table Mountain for the Stormers.
With his contract in Japan set to run until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, the Springbok inside centre pinned his hopes on staying fresh and healthy to have his international swansong at the tournament Down Under.
If everything goes according to plan and he can help the Boks to a third title in a row, he will look to move back home to have one last hurrah in the blue-and-white hoops of the Cape side.
'A third World Cup win would be great to finish off a long career,' De Allende said this week during the Bok camp in Johannesburg.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
'I have about two seasons left in Japan and I really enjoy it there.
'My body still feels very good, and I will see how it is after the next two years.
'Ideally, I would like to complete my rugby career in South Africa, and I would only like to finish in Cape Town.
'So, if the chance does come, and I can play a season or two there for the Stormers and WP, I would love to.
'But we will see when the time comes. I don't see myself finishing my career anywhere else but Cape Town.'
For now, De Allende has his sights set on maintaining his current form to keep his World Cup dream alive.
He's been South Africa's in-form No 12 since Erasmus took over in 2018, and has been a mainstay in the Bok midfield.
🔥40 000 and counting! 🔥
Cape Town is turning green and gold for the @Barbarian_FC vs #Springboks blockbuster 🏉
Don't miss out - get your hands on tickets from just R950, in celebration of the 1995 RWC final 🎟
Get yours now via @Ticketmaster: https://t.co/gA7CsqAnBZ… pic.twitter.com/Kh2QlUdbhS — Springboks (@Springboks) June 19, 2025
Although some promising inside centres are making their mark in the United Rugby Championship, and Sharks strong man André Esterhuizen has been blowing in his neck for that jersey, the 33-year-old double World Cup winner is primed not to take his foot off the accelerator just because he is reaching the latter stage of his career.
'For me, it is just the enjoyment of rugby, especially playing in Japan,' the former UCT midfielder from Milnerton said.
'The game is a lot faster there than the other leagues I've played in in the past.
'I know sometimes when you've achieved so much in rugby, you could lose motivation. But reaching those goals has inspired me to get better.
'I am trying to enjoy my rugby more, and to play with more freedom and a lot less pressure.
'It feels like the older I get, the less pressure there is on me, and I put less on myself.
'You start learning about yourself a lot more at this age.'
What a sight 🥹
Who else is excited to see the Bomb Squad in action this year?#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/FDsjwDjRhi — Springboks (@Springboks) June 18, 2025
De Allende is looking forward to the new season, especially working more closely with attack coach Tony Brown.
He says Brown's input in his first season has been invaluable not just to the players, but South African rugby.
The hope is that the Boks can evolve even further under the New Zealander.
'It was massively important to get someone like Tony Brown in to test our skills and to teach us new ones, and how and when to move the ball, especially before contact,' he said.
'Rugby is changing, the rules are changing. You can see in some competitions the refs do not want to give scrum penalties.
'It's been incredible under him for us older guys over the last season, and seeing the skills development of the forwards has been incredible.
'We will go from strength to strength this season, and by next year and the World Cup, it will be exciting for SA rugby.'
#ForeverGreenForeverGold ♬ Boy - ODESZA @springboks.rugby We're as excited as Lood de Jager to see Malcolm Marx come around the corner... in green & gold 😍 Head over to Ticketmaster to buy your tickets for the Springboks vs Barbarians at DHL Stadium 🎟️ #Springboks
Reaching 100 Bok Test caps will be 'flippin special' according to the inside centre, and it is something he has thought about.
He is currently on 87 Tests, and could reach that milestone over the next two seasons.
But he will be content if he doesn't reach it, knowing that he's had a long, healthy and enjoyable career in the Springbok jersey.
'I will really cherish and enjoy it if it does happen. If it doesn't, it's not the end of the world,' the No 12 said.
'I will at least know that I left it all out there and gave it my best chance.
'I want to put both hands up, and train hard week in and week out to ensure the team is better.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
21 minutes ago
- IOL News
Saru's Rian Oberholzer: Springbok rugby's future in good hands after U20 success
The Junior Springboks' victory in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship highlights the thriving future of South African rugby according to Saru chief Rian Oberholzer (pictured). Picture supplied The Junior Springboks' victory in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship shows that the game is thriving at every level in the country, according to SA Rugby Union (Saru) chief Rian Oberholzer. As the Springboks have won the last two Rugby World Cup titles, the fact that the junior side is following in their footsteps means the long-term future of the game is in good hands. It was also the first time in 13 years that an SA side has triumphed in the Under-20 showpiece event. Oberholzer said a lot of work went on behind the scenes which has led to the strong position of SA rugby.
The Citizen
21 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Rassie Erasmus picks 37 Springboks for Australia Tests, invites 3 Junior Boks
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has named 37 players to take on Australia in the national team's first two Rugby Championship matches. According to The Citizen, these take place at Ellis Park on August 16 and Cape Town Stadium on August 23. Erasmus said before the 55–10 win over Georgia last weekend that they would select a more tried-and-tested squad to face Australia. This follows experimentation in the first four games of the season, during which seven players also made their debuts. The Bok coach has also invited three young guns – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead – who were members of the triumphant Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship squad, to train with the group during a two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday. Rassie on selections The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward). Meanwhile, Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Premiership, although he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise. No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad. Several players have been released to their franchises to build up game time in the Currie Cup, although a few of them have been placed on standby for the Wallaby Tests. The standby players are Lukhanyo Am (centre), who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle, Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Makazole Mapimpi (wing), Salmaan Moerat (lock), Evan Roos (No 8), Neethling Fouche (prop) and Vincent Tshituka (flanker). 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad,' said Erasmus. 'This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches. We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition.' Springboks build squad depth 'One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.' On the young guns invited to train with the squad, Erasmus said: 'We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks… so we opted to invite three of them to join us to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level. We believe this camp will benefit them significantly.' Springbok squad to face Australia Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
The Herald
38 minutes ago
- The Herald
Erasmus names experience and young blood in Bok squad for Australia Tests
'Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world and if one considers we won the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 last year, it is clear this will be a completely different kettle of fish. 'All three teams have beaten us in the last few years and they play a different style of rugby to the other opposition we have faced thus far, but we are pleased with the foundation we laid in the last few weeks and we know exactly what areas of our game we need to work on.' Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand in September before making the journey Down Under, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on September 6, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on September 13. The Boks wrap up their campaign with Tests against Argentina in Durban on September 27 and in London on October 4. Springbok squad Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls) Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers) SA Rugby media
