Stormers captain addresses transfer rumours

REACTION: Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat has addressed reports linking him to a move up north.

Moerat, who was with the Springboks on their end-of-year tour without getting capped, has a contract with the Cape Town franchise up until October 2022.

A report earlier this week suggested that English club Sale Sharks was one of the options he was considering.

Moerat was asked about it in a press conference ahead of his team's United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions on Saturday.

"This is home and this is where I would like to play most of my rugby or all my rugby," Moerat told reporters.

"We are in the process of chatting and I still haven’t finalised anything yet," he said of his contract negotiations with the South African franchise

Stormers head coach John Dobson said Moerat has a big future in Cape Town.

"Salmaan and I were both surprised last week when we were on heated coals about him," said Dobson.

"It was never the case. He is very much part of our plans.

"He has a contract until 2022 and we are having really good discussions now about him being a major leader in this region's rugby over the next few years.

"It's not finalised as he says, but I don't think it is a situation we were having sleepless nights over.

"We have a really good relationship.

"He is a massive player for us.

"He is the leader in the team and in the community and I am extremely confident he is going to be around here for a long time to come."

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