Super Rugby
Stormers denied Louw loan deal
ESPN Staff
May 7, 2012
Bath's Francois Louw charges forward, Bath v Worcester, Aviva Premiership, The Rec, Bath, England, March 3, 2012
Flanker Francois Louw left the Stormers to link up with Premiership side Bath last year © Getty Images
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The Stormers have failed in a bid to re-sign Bath flanker Francois Louw on a short-term loan deal.

Louw, who left the Stormers last year to link up with his current Premiership side, was seen as the ideal player to ease their current injury crisis having seen forwards Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger and Nick Koster all ruled out of action until July. The Stormers took another former player - Saracens hooker Schalk Brits - on a similar short-term last season again as injury cover but have been denied on this occasion with the Cape Argus reporting their approach has been turned down.

Bath's season drew to a close with a 28-3 defeat to semi-finals-bound Leicester Tigers on Saturday. Louw did not feature in the game as he continues to battle back from a knee injury but he is thought to be close to full fitness.

The Stormers have led the South African conference for much of the campaign but saw the Bulls usurp them at the top of the table at the weekend with a bonus-point win over the Rebels. But coach Allister Coetzee is refusing to panic with the imminent return of Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth and Gio Aplon from injury.

"If you start looking at the log and worrying about it now, you land yourself in trouble. The Bulls and ourselves are in different stages of our respective campaigns - we have toured while they are just starting their tour," he said. "My philosophy has always been that if we just keep winning, log position will take care of itself and that hasn't changed. Our priority now is to just beat the Cheetahs next weekend."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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