Two veteran props set to break 10-year-old record showcasing their incredible longevity
Split with Stormers Brok Harris and Edinburgh's WP Nel.
Stormers prop Brok Harris and Edinburgh veteran WP Nel’s longevity in the game will break a 10-year-old record when the two teams meet at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
Harris has been named to start at loosehead prop for the Capetonians on Saturday as part of an impressive resurgence in his career that saw him go from scrum consultant back to playing for the Stormers over the last two seasons.
Veterans
The 39-year-old will be facing a former Western Province and Cheetahs man in the form of 37-year-old Nel who will earn his 200th cap for Edinburgh in Cape Town.
Their combined age of nearly 77 years is enough to break the United Rugby Championship, formerly PRO14 and PRO12, record for the oldest starting opposing props in the tournament’s history.
The duo surpass the record held since 2014 by Duncan Bell of the Dragons and Salvatore Perugini from Zebre Parma.
WP Nel and Brok Harris go head to head in Cape Town in the @URCOfficial tomorrow, a combined age of almost 77 years! The oldest starting opposing props in the championship's history. Previously, it was 75 yrs by Duncan Bell (Dragons) v Salvatore Perugini (Zebre) in March 2014.
— Stuart Farmer (@Stu_Farmer) March 22, 2024
Springbok RG Snyman stars for Munster as Welsh woes continue into the URC
Important period for Stormers
Meanwhile, for the Stormers, their season has hit must-win territory as the race to the URC play-offs heats up, making their net two league games against Edinburgh and Ulster hugely important before they tackle the Champions Cup holders La Rochelle in the round of 16 in the first weekend of April.
“Just looking at La Rochelle, their results, both tightheads weigh collectively over 300kgs, that’s very much an upside game. Nobody really expects us to knock them out,” head coach Dobson said.
“But these next two games are absolutely critical. It’s still very congested between third and 10th on the table, but the Stormers being ninth on the log is not where we want to be. It’s not the standard we have set over the last couple of years.
“So whilst La Rochelle will be a nice occasion and a big shootout, this is do-or-die stuff in terms of us moving up the log. These next two are pressure games.”
