South African lock Deon Slabbert has reportedly halted his move to join the Dragons ahead of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season.
The 23-year-old is said to have delayed the move to Newport due to family reasons, with the Dragons hopeful to bring in Slabbert’s services at a later date. The lock currently plays for South African Currie Cup side the Pumas, and made his breakthrough into the first team with his 2022 debut against Western Province.
Slabbert is a towering lock at 6ft 6.5″, and was instrumental in the Pumas reaching the final in their latest run in the Currie Cup, before their 25-17 defeat to the Free State Cheetahs. Reports from Wales Online and The South Wales Argus present the Dragons’ approach to the halted move, as they will not rush to find a replacement for the South African.
“We’ve gone about our recruitment a little differently and have been statistic-led to try and find some golden nuggets who can kick on to enhance us and themselves,” said head coach Dai Flanagan.
“We’ve never had the big budget to go out and find a ‘rock star’ player but we had identified someone who we felt has the potential to be a superstar in the future. We were nearly there but it hasn’t happened because he needs to stay where he is at the moment.”
The Dragons could well utilise Slabbert’s talents, following the departure of Welsh international lock Will Rowlands to Racing 92. Rowland’s will swap Rodney Parade for Paris after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, leaving a gap in the row which the South African could more than step up to fill.
The Dragons have suitable depth in the row to make do for the time being, with 22-year-old Wales hopeful Ben Carter the stand-out. Other options to pack down the Dragons scrum include George Nott, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech and Sean Lonsdale