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John Dobson, Stormers director of rugby
Photo: stormers.co.za

Stormers Director of Rugby

John Dobson

Role
Director of Rugby
Team
Stormers
Nationality
South African
Age
not available
In charge since
Mar 2024
Matches
32
Record W-D-L
21-1-10
Win rate
65.6%
Latest news

Record in our match database since Sep 2025

as of
  • 32 Matches
  • 21 Won
  • 1 Drawn
  • 10 Lost
  • 65.6% Win rate

John Dobson has overseen 32 completed Stormers matches in our database since September 2025 — 21 won, 1 drawn, 10 lost. That is a 65.6% win rate, with 939 points scored and 689 conceded.

Records are computed from the WeTalkRugby match database and cover matches we hold data for within this tenure. They are not an official all-time record.

Record by competition

— means no data from the provider
John Dobson, record by competition in our match database
CompetitionPWDLWin %PFPA
All matches · Stormers All competitions322111065.6%939689
United Rugby Championship Sep 2025 – Oct 202625171768.0%725486
Champions Cup Dec 2025 – Oct 2026640266.7%193165
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Aug 20261001not available2138

Last five matches

  1. Won v Ulster 33–7 URC ·
  2. Won v Scarlets 52–40 URC ·
  3. Won v Bristol Bears 49–12 Champions Cup ·
  4. Won v Sharks 39–22 URC ·
  5. Lost v Edinburgh Rugby 13–17 URC ·

Every match in our database

32 matches
United Rugby Championship 25P · 17W · 1D · 7L
  1. Won v Ulster 33–7
  2. Won v Scarlets 52–40
  3. Won v Sharks 39–22
  4. Lost v Edinburgh Rugby 13–17
  5. Won v Connacht 29–15
  6. Lost v Leinster 11–20
  7. Won v Cardiff Rugby 44–21
  8. Lost v Cardiff Rugby 16–22
  9. Drawn v Ulster 38–38
  10. Won v Glasgow Warriors 48–12
  11. Lost v Connacht 24–33
  12. Won v Edinburgh Rugby 33–14
  13. Won v Dragons RFC 29–21
  14. Won v Bulls 32–19
  15. Lost v Lions 10–24
  16. Lost v Sharks 24–36
  17. Lost v Sharks 19–30
  18. Won v Bulls 13–8
  19. Won v Lions 34–27
  20. Won v Munster 27–21
  21. Won v Benetton Rugby 31–16
  22. Won v Zebre Parma 31–13
  23. Won v Scarlets 34–0
  24. Won v Ospreys 26–10
  25. Won v Leinster 35–0
Champions Cup 6P · 4W · 0D · 2L
  1. Won v Bristol Bears 49–12
  2. Lost v Toulon 27–28
  3. Won v Leicester Tigers 39–26
  4. Lost v Harlequins 10–61
  5. Won v La Rochelle 42–21
  6. Won v Bayonne 26–17
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 1P · 0W · 0D · 1L
  1. Lost v New Zealand 21–38

Career

  • Stormers Director of Rugby 2024– 32 matches in our data
  • Stormers Head Coach 2020–24

Honours

  • United Rugby Championship (Stormers) 2022
  • Currie Cup (Western Province) 2017
  • Vodacom Cup (Western Province) 2012
  • U21 Provincial Championship (Western Province U21) 2010, 2013

About John Dobson

John Dobson is the director of rugby at the Stormers, the coach who won the inaugural URC title in 2022 and has committed to the club through to 2029.

John Dobson is Director of Rugby at the Stormers, having moved up from head coach in March 2024. In January 2026 he signed a four-year extension through to 2029, turning down interest from the Premiership.

Born in 1970, he was a hooker for Western Province and Cape club sides UCT Ikey Tigers, Villagers and Northerns, with later spells in Italy and Portugal. He was never capped.

Up through the Cape system

Dobson coached UCT Ikey Tigers from 2008, then Western Province Under-21s and the Vodacom Cup side, winning provincial age-grade titles in 2010 and 2013 and the Vodacom Cup in 2012. He took over the Western Province Currie Cup team in 2015, winning the competition in 2017, and became Stormers head coach in 2019.

The URC title

His defining achievement came in 2022, when the Stormers won the inaugural United Rugby Championship, beating the Bulls in an all-South African final at a packed Cape Town Stadium. They reached the final again in 2023 and the semi-finals in 2026.

Style

Dobson’s teams play an expansive, ball-in-hand game, and he has invested heavily in homegrown Cape talent rather than recruiting around the problem. He is also among the most candid coaches in the game with the media, which has made him unusually quotable and occasionally unpopular with administrators.

As a player Hooker for Western Province and Cape club sides UCT Ikey Tigers, Villagers and Northerns, with later spells in Italy and Portugal. Never capped.

Latest on Dobson

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the director of rugby of Stormers?

John Dobson is the director of rugby of Stormers.

When did John Dobson take charge?

John Dobson took over at Stormers in March 2024, around 2 years ago.

What is John Dobson's record?

From 32 matches in our database: 21 wins, 1 draws and 10 defeats — a 65.6% win rate.

What nationality is John Dobson?

John Dobson is South African.

What has John Dobson won?

Honours include: United Rugby Championship (Stormers) (2022), Currie Cup (Western Province) (2017), Vodacom Cup (Western Province) (2012), U21 Provincial Championship (Western Province U21) (2013), U21 Provincial Championship (Western Province U21) (2010).