Stormers celebrate the homecoming of superstars

The Stormers have bolstered their ranks with the signing of flanker Siya Kolisi, winger Cheslin Kolbe and tighthead prop Wilco Louw following spells with the Sharks, Tokyo Sungoliath and the Bulls respectively.

In addition, Haashim Pead – the Player of the Tournament at the 2025 World Rugby Junior World Championship – has signed a four-year deal with the Stormers.

The 21-year-old was called up to a Springbok senior alignment camp and featured for South Africa A against Zimbabwe earlier this season. 

Director of Rugby John Dobson said Pead’s profile was the perfect fit for the squad as part of Project 2029, which seeks to position Stormers Rugby as one of the top global rugby clubs on and off the field.

“Haashim is a rising star and as a local lad who fits our game model perfectly, it made sense on every level for us to bring him back to Cape Town.

“He is a gifted athlete who has an incredibly high ceiling, and we look forward to seeing how he develops here with us.

“This is a four-year deal, so there is a big commitment from both ourselves and Haashim to Project 2029 and our goals as a club,” he added.

Stormers making moves

Meanwhile, captain Ruhan Nel said there was good reason for the Cape Town-based outfit to go into the new season full of confidence.

“It’s pretty well documented about their abilities as rugby players, but I think if you look at the humans we are getting back into our system, that’s actually the thing that stands out the most for me,” said the veteran centre.

“I had the pleasure of playing Sevens with Cheslin in a couple of tournaments and he is exactly the same guy now as what he was back then and I think that speaks volumes of his character.

“We know Siya for the character he is and the impact he has on the people of South Africa and I know Wilco as well.

“For me, the more better people you can get in the environment, I just believe you will have better rugby players as well.

“We have got three very big guys coming back, also three Stormers men. It’s very exciting.

“Apart from what they are bringing on the field physically, just the type of humans we are going to have in the environment is also a massive contribution to us.”

Adding his thoughts, Director of Rugby John Dobson said: “They are all multiple season Stormers. So there’s a sense of a homecoming.

“We offered all our Springboks a week off next month and not one of those three guys took up that right which is fantastic.

“It shows their commitment to the Stormers that they wanted to play every game.”

High calibre players

Dobson went on to speak about all three players individually.

On double World Cup-winning Springboks skipper Kolisi, he said: “He’s already thoroughly invested.

“He’s a guy we’d look at in all positions in the back row.

“We’ve got three guys that have played six for South Africa this year in Siya, Deon Fourie and Paul de Villiers.

“With the way Siya has grown physically, he could play seven and eight for us as well.”

As for Louw, who started all four Tests in the recent Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, he said: “Just seeing the damage he is doing on the world stage now, he’s a massive acquisition for us.”

Kolbe, who passed 50 caps this summer, will have a delayed start to the campaign after suffering a broken jaw against the All Blacks in Johannesburg three weeks ago.

Dobson said: “It’s a bit of a blow that Cheslin won’t play the October matches because we have been a bit light on the wings over the last season or two.

“It’s a blow he’s out for four weeks, but he’s got a long season after that.

“He’s massive for us in terms of what he brings as a player and to the community.”