Fouche Wants To Make Family Proud As He Closes On 100 Stormers App

Thirty-two-year-old Neethling Fouche says that it will be a bonus for him to run out at his fabled homeground of DHL Stadium to rapturous applause as he brings up his 100th appearance for the Stormers against the Lions on Saturday.

The tighthead prop was gracious and grateful as he reflected on almost giving up the game he has so much affection for.

“I want to thank Jesus for giving me the chance to play rugby. It is a privilege to do what I  love,” he said. 

“If I think back to 2016, I was on the verge of stopping playing rugby. I was in a very low place in my career. I had a chat with my wife, and she and my parents encouraged me to keep going,” said Fouche.

“I had the move to the Stormers, and it’s unbelievable to sit here now – it’s an unbelievable club to join, and I’m just very grateful.”

Fouche delved into his relationship with his father-in-law – a miner from Rustenburg – who was a massive Stormers supporter and had season tickets at Newlands.

“It’s a bittersweet moment. I would have loved for him to be there – my parents will be there,” he mentioned. 

“I have photos of my wife when she was little in the arms of Stormers players like Breyton Paulse, Toks van der Linde, Corne Krige – I’d like to think he will be looking down and just thinking, I am proud of you, son.”

Fouche made no bones about how important the support of his family was to him.

“That is what I am about, I want to make my family proud, my parents proud, my wife and kids proud every time I play for the Stormers. It’s very special, and for me it is a family affair. I always dedicate my games to them.”

Fouche moved swiftly to give credit to Brok Harris, who has been instrumental in making the Stormers scrum as potent and efficient as it has ever been.

“Lots of credit has to go to Brok – he was still playing last season, and now he is a full-time coach,” as he spoke of Harris’ transition. 

“He gets everyone’s buy-in just like Daan (Human) at the Springboks – it’s an eight-man effort, and Brok is getting the same response from everyone in the pack. We weren’t scrumming badly, but he just offered us a bit of fine-tuning to take us to the next level.”

With a plethora of talent at their disposal and with coach John Dobson speaking of the scrum culture at the club, Fouche said that competition for places has added depth.

“The guys that came in, took their opportunities – it builds the depth for us at the Stormers.”

As competition at the Stormers among the tightheads intensifies – with Wilco Louw returning, the experience of Frans Malherbe and the potential of Zachary Porthen, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Sazi Sandi – Fouche pointed out the importance of competition. 

“For any franchise to do well, there needs to be internal competition. I’ve had to fight for what I want, and it brings out the best in me.”

2025 was also a year that saw Fouche debut for the Springboks – against Georgia in Nelspruit – and he is eager to form part of the national team setup again.

“The dream of playing for the Springboks usually happens early – for a tighthead it can happen later on – you keep working and refining the art and skill of it,” he said.

“Getting the opportunity to play for the Springboks in my 30s makes it sweeter because I have waited a long time. When you get there, you want to get back as soon as you can, but you need to produce for the Stormers, and if the opportunity comes again, you take it,” added Fouche. 

The veteran prop paid a glowing tribute to mentors Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.

“Their impact has been massive – training against them has benefitted me. I remained patient, playing behind them. Kitshie would give me advice over a round of golf or coffee. I was very blessed to play alongside them. I learnt so much from them,” said Fouche.

Fouche added that he hoped he could use their example to assist the current crop of youngsters.

“They were always so open and going forward for the youngsters – from me, I’ll use that same type of mentoring – sharing secrets and seeing guys benefit from them.”

The former Grey College student also thanked the coaches who have supported him over the years.

“I feel blessed to have people and coaches around me that have given me the opportunity, Dawie, Norman, Rito, and Dobbo – they’ve backed me since 2018 when I made my Super Rugby debut.”

Fouche knows that reaching such an immense milestone is made extra special playing in front of his home crowd.

“It’s a bonus if you can play at home in front of friends and family – we haven’t played at DHL for a long time. It will be special with my wife and my kids there.”

Fouche has travelled a long road, experiencing the highs and lows of the game he loves, but perhaps his astonishment on reaching such an immense milestone can be best captured in his words below: 

“If you had told me I would play 100 games for the Stormers, I would’ve said you smoked something chom.”