The Stormers suffered a setback ahead of Saturday’s Champions Cup clash against Racing 92, with a coach’s laptop and wallet reportedly stolen from their team room.
According to Rugby365, the theft occurred on Thursday at the Radisson Blu hotel in Paris. Team members initially mistook the intruder for a lost guest but later discovered it was a thief who had entered from outside.
Security footage confirmed the incident, and Paris police are understood to be investigating.
The Stormers, fresh off their first Champions Cup win against Sale Sharks, face Racing in a decisive Pool 4 match at La Defense Arena. Both teams have just one victory and are vying for a spot in the playoffs.
Stormers coach John Dobson said they are under no illusion of the enormity of the challenge they face in Paris especially because they will be without Sprinboks of the calibre of flyhalf Manie Libbok and fullback Warrick Gelant.
Jurie Matthee will play at no.10 with Clayton Blommetjies manning the last line of defence.
“Budget-wise (Racing 92) it’s a big team, amazing facility and we have to be realistic,” Dobson said.
“We are probably missing a few of our playmakers. So we are going to have to fight. And we can fight properly,” he added.
“Playing a team like these guys away in France when it is 1°C outside, it’s a tough thing.
“But if we can fight and eke out a special result, it will be a massive confidence boost for us.
“But I would focus on our performance, that we stand up and try and impose our game plan, and then the result will come.
“We are here to compete, but people mustn’t be under any illusion as to the nature and size of the beast that we are playing.”