South African rugby fans breathed a sigh of relief when their 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning star, and World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit opted to stay with the Stormers.
Du Toit was the subject of lucrative overseas offers, especially from France and Japan but after much speculation, he chose to keep his feet on South African soil.
He has extended his contract until, at least, the end of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Stormers' board member Andre van der Veen said a lot of hard work had gone into the negotiations.
"Pieter-Steph wanted to stay at Western Province Rugby. He is a true team man who is integral to our plans. We committed to find an equitable solution for him and the entire team and we are pleased to be able to officially confirm it," he said.
Coach John Dobson said keeping players of experience and world-class like du Toit and the other seven members of the World Cup-winning Springboks team in the squad was a crucial part of rewarding the Cape fans with a team they could be proud of.
"Pieter-Steph is an important team member, his extraordinary work-rate coupled with his ball-carrying skills, makes our forward pack even more formidable," he said.
Du Toit's rehabilitation from a severe injury to his leg, suffered against the Blues in Super Rugby, was progressing well and they were looking forward to seeing him back in the Stormers' side when rugby can resume, Dobson said.
"Not only is this good for the Stormers and Western Province Rugby, but it is also good for South African rugby that we have kept such prominent players in the country, looking ahead at the post-pandemic rugby offering and market," he said.