Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says centre Adrian Jacobs is welcome to join his squad in their pre-season preparations.

Sport24

Coetzee told Die Burger newspaper they would allow Jacobs to join their squad in a similar way in which flyhalf Burton Francis joined earlier this week. Francis has the opportunity to convince the coaches to offer him a contract.

Jacobs arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday after his contract at the Sharks was not renewed. He expressed his interest earlier this week to join the Cape side. He also has options abroad, but first wants to spend some time with his family before deciding on his future.

“I chatted to Adi on Wednesday morning and told him he can contact me once he is settled in,” said Coetzee.

“Adi is an experienced player, but we’re not yet talking about a contract.

“We haven’t chatted face to face yet. But he’s more than welcome to join up with us.”

Jacobs will add some much needed depth to the Stormers midfield after they lost Johann Sadie to the Bulls, Tim Whitehead to the Sharks, while Jaque Fourie will only return from Japan in late March.

Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh will form a formidable centre partnership, but inexperienced players like JP du Plessis, Michael van der Spuy and Berton Klaasen could struggle to make big the step up if either of the incumbent centre’s get injured.

Jacobs’s experienced could thus prove to be vital in a long Super Rugby season.

“Adi looks more and more like a guy that could fit in,” said Coetzee.