Jonathan Roche has turned down international overtures from both Ireland and Zimbabwe, with the 23-year-old Stormers centre committed to pursuing a Springbok career. Roche qualifies for Ireland through his grandmother and for Zimbabwe through his father, but has rebuffed both approaches in favour of remaining available for South Africa.
His agent Matt Norton, global Head of Rugby at Roc Nation Sports International, confirmed Roche will also extend his contract with the Stormers beyond its current end-of-season expiry. "He is a Cape Town boy and a South African through-and-through," Norton told Rugby365. "He would love it to be the Springboks. If it is someone else, then so be it."
The Zimbabwe interest dates back two years, when Roche was still at Cape Town University. The Ireland approach is more recent. Norton was measured on the long-term picture: "Who he plays his international rugby for down the line, who knows?"
Roche, a former Bishops pupil who is comfortable at both centres, received an invitation to a Springbok alignment camp in 2025.