Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden to join Top 14 giants Montpellier on long-term deal
By
SABC Sport
25th February 2026
French heavyweights Montpellier have secured the services of Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden, confirming the 28-year-old will head to the Top 14 at the start of the 2026/27 season.
French heavyweights Montpellier have secured the services of Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden, confirming the 28-year-old will head to the Top 14 at the start of the 2026/27 season.
The towering second row will make the move once the current United Rugby Championship campaign concludes, bringing an end to a three-year stint in Cape Town with Stormers.
Montpellier announced the deal via social media, revealing that Van Heerden has signed a long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2029. The French outfit see him as a direct successor to fellow South African Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, who left Montpellier earlier this season to join the Bulls.
Currently sidelined after undergoing thumb surgery in early February, Van Heerden is expected to return in time for the Stormers' push toward the URC playoffs. His comeback would provide a timely boost for a side light on second-row depth as the competition enters its decisive phase.
Since arriving in Cape Town three years ago, the former Bulls and Sharks forward has become a mainstay in the Stormers engine room. A consistent lineout presence, he has frequently called the shots at set-piece time and played a central role in the team's forward structures.
This season, he has featured in 12 matches across competitions, including two appearances in the Champions Cup. He also earned selection for the Barbarians in their clash against the All Blacks XV, starting at lock and playing 55 minutes in that encounter.
Speaking after putting pen to paper, Van Heerden expressed his enthusiasm about the move: he is "very happy" to be joining Montpellier and is eager to give everything for the club and its supporters.
Before embarking on his French chapter, however, the 28-year-old will be focused on helping the Stormers finish their URC campaign strongly - a final opportunity to leave his mark in Cape Town before trading the Cape for the south of France.
