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Speculation in the South African media linking Sonny Bill Williams to the Stormers has raised the tantalising prospect of Quade Cooper moving to the Rainbow Nation.
As fanciful as it may seem, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Cooper could play for the Stormers.
According to Afrikaans newspaper Die Burger, Williams's manager, Khoder Nasser, is in Cape Town, exploring commercial opportunities.
Williams was looking to box in Cape Town later this year, but Nasser was quoted as saying a contract with the Stormers was not out of the question.
Nasser reportedly said that Williams enjoyed Cape Town and would seriously consider an offer from the Stormers.
While there has been strong speculation he will leave the Chiefs in New Zealand to return to the NRL with Sydney Roosters next year, it has long been thought Williams and Cooper could be sold as a package deal. Nasser manages both men.
If Williams went back to the NRL, Nasser's trip to Cape Town could open the gates of Newlands to Cooper.
After his disappointing performance at Rugby World Cup 2011, Cooper is facing a possible pay-cut when he renegotiates his contract with the ARU. It is unlikely Queensland Reds could make up the difference.
Cooper's value in rugby league has also diminished as a result of the Wallabies' World Cup campaign, which exposed flaws in his game.
Unless another Super Rugby franchise could come up with significant third-party money, Cooper is looking likely to join a French club.
You would not think that a South African team could out-bid a French club, yet Frederic Michalak is currently playing for the Sharks, not Toulouse.
Significantly, the consortium that owns the Stormers also owns English club Saracens, which is cashed-up.
Players have floated between the Stormers and Saracens, most notably hooker Schalk Brits.
If Cooper could sign a contract that enabled him to play for the Stormers and Saracens, it could be more lucrative than a deal with a French club.
It is hard to think the Stormers would not want a player like Cooper, whose X-factor is exactly what they need if they are to become Super Rugby champions.
The Stormers already have a history of recruiting foreign five-eighths following former All Blacks No.10 Tony Brown's stint in Cape Town.
They have brought veteran flyhalf Peter Grant back from Japan to shore up a problem area for them.
A star power player, Cooper would put bums on seats at Newlands and Vicarage Road. Importantly, it would also keep Cooper in rugby and not risk his reputation with a potentially unsuccessful stint in rugby league.
In this scenario, Cooper could earn a pot of gold and then return to Australia in time to play for the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup in England.
It does not sound like such a crazy idea now, does it?
As fanciful as it may seem, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Cooper could play for the Stormers.
According to Afrikaans newspaper Die Burger, Williams's manager, Khoder Nasser, is in Cape Town, exploring commercial opportunities.
Williams was looking to box in Cape Town later this year, but Nasser was quoted as saying a contract with the Stormers was not out of the question.
Nasser reportedly said that Williams enjoyed Cape Town and would seriously consider an offer from the Stormers.
While there has been strong speculation he will leave the Chiefs in New Zealand to return to the NRL with Sydney Roosters next year, it has long been thought Williams and Cooper could be sold as a package deal. Nasser manages both men.
If Williams went back to the NRL, Nasser's trip to Cape Town could open the gates of Newlands to Cooper.
After his disappointing performance at Rugby World Cup 2011, Cooper is facing a possible pay-cut when he renegotiates his contract with the ARU. It is unlikely Queensland Reds could make up the difference.
Cooper's value in rugby league has also diminished as a result of the Wallabies' World Cup campaign, which exposed flaws in his game.
Unless another Super Rugby franchise could come up with significant third-party money, Cooper is looking likely to join a French club.
You would not think that a South African team could out-bid a French club, yet Frederic Michalak is currently playing for the Sharks, not Toulouse.
Significantly, the consortium that owns the Stormers also owns English club Saracens, which is cashed-up.
Players have floated between the Stormers and Saracens, most notably hooker Schalk Brits.
If Cooper could sign a contract that enabled him to play for the Stormers and Saracens, it could be more lucrative than a deal with a French club.
It is hard to think the Stormers would not want a player like Cooper, whose X-factor is exactly what they need if they are to become Super Rugby champions.
The Stormers already have a history of recruiting foreign five-eighths following former All Blacks No.10 Tony Brown's stint in Cape Town.
They have brought veteran flyhalf Peter Grant back from Japan to shore up a problem area for them.
A star power player, Cooper would put bums on seats at Newlands and Vicarage Road. Importantly, it would also keep Cooper in rugby and not risk his reputation with a potentially unsuccessful stint in rugby league.
In this scenario, Cooper could earn a pot of gold and then return to Australia in time to play for the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup in England.
It does not sound like such a crazy idea now, does it?
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