Stormers coach admits Champions Cup success still out of reach, despite brilliant URC strides

Stormers coach John Dobson said Champions Cup success remains a distant goal for them until they sort out their depth and funding issues.

The Stormers, who were losing United Rugby Championship finalists on Saturday when they lost 19-14 to Munster at the Cape Town Stadium, exited the Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage when they lost to Exeter.

Munster left the Champions Cup on 1 April in the round of 16 when they lost 50-35 to the Sharks in Durban.

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However, that proved to be their Eureka moment as they went on to win four and draw one of their five remaining URC games, all away, to win the tournament so deservedly.

Both the Stormers and Munster will again take part in the Champions Cup next season, with Netwerk24 recently reporting that the former may be in line to get a new equity partner.

Dobson said their while their early Champions Cup exit was a blessing in disguise, it didn't mask the fact they still didn't quite cut the mustard to go all the way in that tournament.

"We're a little bit off that at the moment," Dobson said.

"If we had to go to La Rochelle for a semi-final and come back for a URC semi-final, we wouldn't be here today.

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"There sounds like there are going to be adjustments to the cap, but we do need bigger squads because our depth at the moment and the youngsters we have won't solve the Heineken Cup problem.

"You also, hypothetically, where we have a big European Cup game away where we have our main front row away [want] ... another one sitting here prepping for the next URC game.

"If we go to Exeter, we'll need to have a team good enough here at home