John Dobson has been forced to rejig the Stormers match-day 23 to face Leinster in Dublin on Saturday due to illness in the camp.

Two-time Springbok world champion Frans Malherbe has been ruled out with illness for the round 10 Vodacom URC clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Loosehead prop Sti Sithole comes onto the replacements bench and seasoned front-row campaigner Brok Harris will cover tighthead.

A victory in the Irish capital could propel the 10th-placed Stormers into the URC top four but they are bracing for a blockbuster match against unbeaten Leinster, who top the log with 43 points from nine wins.

Read more:

Wales make bold coaching change on eve of Six Nations as departure confirmed

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made another change to his backroom staff on the eve of the Six Nations with Rob Howley replacing Alex King as the team’s attack coach for the competition.

King, who is 50, was named as Wales’ attack coach in December 2022 after Stephen Jones stepped down from the position.

During his tenure, King was in charge of the side’s attack during two Six Nations campaigns and the 2023 Rugby World Cup and they were eventually knocked out of the global showpiece in the quarter-finals.

Wales battling in the Test arena

However, the team has been struggling of late and head into their opening Six Nations clash with France in Paris after losing their last 12 internationals – a record which stretches back to 2023.

Wales‘ backroom staff has been revamped with scrum specialist Adam Jones joining the coaching group on a secondment from Harlequins.

Meanwhile, psychology and human performance specialist Andy McCann was also appointed for the Six Nations, with Mike Forshaw and Neil Jenkins continuing their defence and skills roles.

The Welsh Rugby Union issued a statement which read: “Head coach Warren Gatland’s coaching team has been finalised for the 2025 Men’s Guinness Six Nations.

“Adam Jones joins as a scrum consultant on secondment from Gallagher Premiership club Harlequins, he will work closely with forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.

“Mike Forshaw continues as defence coach, Neil Jenkins is skills coach and Rob Howley is attack coach. Alex King will not be involved with the coaching team for the Championship.”

Experienced coach

Howley is no stranger to the position as he was a key part of Gatland’s coaching set-up between 2008 and 2019 and during that period Wales won three Grand Slams along with a fourth Six Nations title while he was also caretaker head coach.

The 54-year-old was also part of British and Irish Lions coaching set-up on three tours as an attack coach.

Howley returned to Wales’ coaching staff in December 2023 as a technical coach. This, after his absence following a suspension 2019 for betting breaches.

According to a WalesOnline report, King had become increasingly marginalised within the Wales camp following Howley’s return to Gatland’s coaching group.