“This is a dream job for me and I wouldn’t want to coach anywhere else,” said the Stormers coach, John Dobson, following the news that he will lead the Cape Town francise for at least four more years.
Dobson is a true-blue-and-white Capetonian, his roots firmly entrenched in the Mother City. His passion for the Western Province Rugby Union (WPRU) was ignited in his youth, nurtured by his late father, Paul Dobson, who had strong ties to the WPRU.
Climbing through the Ranks
Dobson’s professional coaching career began at UCT. Under the guidance of Dobbo, as he is fondly known, the Ikeys reached the inaugural Varsity Cup final in 2008. Unfortunately, they fell to a narrow defeat to the Maties.
The following season, Dobson’s last as head coach of UCT, the Tigers were unfortunately eliminated in the semi-finals.
In 2010, Dobbo officially joined the Western Province structures, where he went on to win the Under-21 Provincial Championship. He steadily climbed the ranks over the ensuing years.
He coached the Western Province in the Vodacom Cup and the Currie Cup before eventually taking the helm as Stormers head coach in 2019.
Success with the Stormers
His hard work and dedication to the game paid off. It’s been a successful run for the Stormers under John Dobson.
Dobson and his team of more than capable assistant coaches have done an impeccable job at the Franchise. They have, and continue to produce Springbok talents. They also etched their name on a major trophy for the first time in the teams’ history.
“I grew up in Cape Town as part of a rugby family. So this is a dream job for me and I wouldn’t want to coach anywhere else,” Said Dobson in statement released by the Stormers.
“I have been very lucky to be surrounded by an outstanding coaching and support team and I am very excited about what we can achieve together in the coming years.
“This is a special place and we have a very real connection with the people who support this team, which makes this such a stimulating and rewarding environment.
“The structures we have set up here and the continuous stream of talent coming through in the region will hopefully combine to put this team where it should be among the best in the world,” he said.
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