Stormers lock in Bok-laden squad for bumper upcoming season

Led by club captain Ruhan Nel, the squad assembled to fly the Stormers flag in the URC and Champions Cup this season boasts serious firepower - 17 internationals, including 15 Springboks - line up alongside four history-makers from the Junior Springboks' championship-winning side earlier this year.

This is not a squad that was built overnight. Eighteen players from the famous 21/22 Vodacom URC title-winning campaign remain part of the group - a powerful statement of continuity and the playing group's commitment to the club.

The blue and white hoops keep producing new Springboks. Paul de Villiers and Zachary Porthen have both burst onto the Test scene, earning their first Springbok caps off the back of stand-out form for the DHL Stormers last season.

Some of the biggest names in South African rugby are coming home too. Siya Kolisi (118 Stormers caps), Wilco Louw (52 caps) and Cheslin Kolbe (49 caps) are back in Cape Town and will all pull the Stormers jersey back on this season.

There is no easing in. The Stormers open the season with a two-match URC tour, taking on Connacht in Galway before heading to Edinburgh - a true test on the road to kick things off.

Dobson believes this is the deepest Stormers squad in recent seasons, in line with the stated aims of Project 2029.

"Last season, we fielded a team that had 1,569 Stormers caps between them, which was the most in the history of the club and a marker that we want to build on as we seek to realise the goals of Project 2029.

"Given the experienced core we have who have stayed loyal to us for so long, the iconic players returning to the fold and the young talent coming through our system, we feel well-positioned to build on last season, which saw us host play-off rugby in Cape Town and push some of the best club teams in the world in knock-out matches on their home turf.

"We have a solid base of experienced players who form the backbone of the squad, with the intention to compete seriously on all fronts this season, while we also have the talent pipeline in place, with the Stormers Rugby Institute continually developing players that are ready to step into the senior squad.

"We face a challenging start to the season, but after putting in the work in pre-season this group is ready to represent our fans and we cannot wait to get started in Galway next week."

Stormers 2026/27 URC squad

Forwards:

Neethling Fouche, Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi, Wilco Louw, Vernon Matongo, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen, Hencus van Wyk, Herman Lubbe*, Olly Reid, Andre-Hugo Venter, JJ Kotze, Lukhanyo Vokozela, Vernon Paulo, Luca Bakkes, JD Schickerling, Adre Smith, Connor Evans, Gary Porter, Riley Norton, Deon Fourie, Siya Kolisi, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Hacjivah Dayimani, Paul de Villiers, Keke Morabe, Louw Nel, Ruan Ackermann, Wandile Mlaba, Divan Fuller.

Backs:

Stefan Ungerer, Imad Khan, Cobus Reinach, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Jayden Brits, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jurie Matthee, Yaqeen Ahmed, Kyle Smith, Ruhan Nel, Wandisile Simelane, Jonathan Roche, Markus Muller, Josh Boulle, Leolin Zas, Seabelo Senatla, Cheslin Kolbe, JC Mars, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Joel Leotlela, Gino Cupido, Damian Willemse, Warrick Gelant.

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