Try GOLD - Free
Life without magical Manie could be tough for Stormers
Cape Argus
|June 26, 2025
WHENEVER Manie Libbok pulls on a Stormers jersey, magic is bound to happen on the rugby field.
However, his departure from the Stormers confirmed in a video by the Cape side to Japan is not just the end of a brilliant chapter of his rugby career in the Mother City.
But it could also end up in a flyhalf crisis for the team in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup.
For a franchise that rebuilt itself around flair, unpredictability and a free-flowing attacking game-plan when they nearly went bankrupt, losing the conductor of that orchestra is more than just a setback; it is a massive blow to their ambitions of winning titles in the future.
Let’s be blunt: the Stormers’ attacking identity doesn’t function without a flyhalf who can pull the strings and improvise on the attack.
Libbok isn’t just any No 10, though.
He has been at the forefront of their resurgence since joining from the Bulls and Sharks, two franchises that failed to unlock the full potential of his talent.
This story is from the June 26, 2025 edition of Cape Argus.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Cape Argus
Cape Argus
Trump's Venezuela strategy risks chaos
OBSERVERS have noted that the current approach by the US in Venezuela reflects patterns tragically familiar, interventions cloaked in the guise of strength that frequently devolve into chaos.
1 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
KG Montjane finds strength for Australian Open quest
FOUR-TIME wheelchair tennis Grand Slam doubles champion Kgothatso “KG” Montjane is eager to put the heartache of 2025 behind her as she resumes her pursuit of a fifth major title at the Australian Open later this month.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
Lions forced to shuffle pack for Lyon clash
THE Lions are far from throwing in the towel in the EPCR Challenge Cup, stressing that matches like Saturday's visit of French side Lyon to Ellis Park (5.15pm kickoff) are key to building momentum in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and improving squad depth.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
Fake images flood social media platforms after Maduro raid
FROM AI deepfakes to recycled, outdated images, a surge of visual misinformation has inundated social media platforms after US forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a stunning raid on his Caracas home.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
Kebble: The Stormers badge is special
IT has been a long time between drinks, but Oli Kebble is at last set to reach the 50-cap milestone for the Stormers, the team he grew up supporting and who gave him his start in professional rugby.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
Sale Sharks sharpen their teeth after 'Tuna' chirp
SHARKS owner Marco Masotti’s chirp that the Sale Sharks should rebrand themselves as the “Sale Tuna” could come back to bite him when the teams meet in a Champions Cup fixture on Saturday in Manchester.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
The executive's great deflection: Why Minister Mantashe is wrong about a 'passive society'
THE recent remarks by Minister Gwede Mantashe, who labeled South Africans as a \"passive society\" reliant on the state, signify a dangerous deflection of executive responsibility.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
Slot says Reds can still do 'special things' ahead of Arsenal clash
LIVERPOOL manager Arne Slot insists his reigning English champions can still do “special things” this season as they prepare to face Premier League leaders Arsenal following a faltering start to their title defence.
2 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
MILLVIEW DEVELOPMENT SPARKS OUTRAGE
Plan going ahead despite opposition
3 mins
January 08, 2026
Cape Argus
Airstrikes hit home province of separatist
YEMEN'S Saudi-led coalition attacked the home province of a UAE-backed separatist leader yesterday after he was kicked out of the presidency and accused of \"high treason\" for attempting to secede.
1 mins
January 08, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size