STORMERS COACH John Dobson chuckles when he’s asked to explain why Warrick Gelant – who recently returned from a one-year stint at Racing 92 – is called ‘The Boogeyman’.
“He’s scary… or at least he used to be,” says Dobson. “Before he went to France, he’d sit through team meetings without saying a word. I’d be addressing the team and whenever I looked in his direction, those two fierce eyes would glare back at me.”
Gelant departed Cape Town shortly after the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship title triumph in June 2022. When he returned from France ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Stormers coaches and players were struck by how much he’d changed.
“He’s less emotional, and certainly more outspoken and engaging with the coaches,” Dobson points out. “He’s looking to mentor the younger players and pass on what he’s learned. That’s a major development for us as a team, because not many players see and understand the game like Warrick Gelant.”
Two years ago, the Stormers franchise wasafter they began a historic URC campaign, the franchise was sent into administration by SA Rugby.
