CAPE TOWN — The Stormers have been bolstered by the return of seven Springboks for their first home fixture of the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship season against the Sharks at DHL Stadium on Saturday, 10 October, where they will debut their new black kit in a throwback to the iconic 1999 Men in Black campaign. Director of rugby John Dobson has named 11 Springboks in total in his matchday 23, with highly-rated scrum-half Haashim Pead in line to make his debut from the bench.
Dobson has made three changes to the backline, with Damian Willemse replacing Warrick Gelant at full-back and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starting at fly-half as Yaqeen Ahmed drops out of the side. Springbok Cobus Reinach will combine with Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the half-backs, while Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas are retained on the wings and captain Ruhan Nel partners Jonathan Roche in the centres. “It is fantastic to be able to name a team like this which is full of exceptional talents, from Deon Fourie with 141 DHL Stormers caps through to Haashim Pead who makes his first appearance for us,” Dobson said.
There are no changes to the starting back row, with Hacjivah Dayimani continuing at number eight alongside Siya Kolisi at seven and Paul de Villiers at six, while JD Schickerling and Adré Smith pair in the second row. Wilco Louw earns his first Stormers cap since 2020 at tighthead prop and packs down alongside fellow Springboks André-Hugo Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu in the front row. Dobson has persisted with a 6-2 bench split featuring the return of Fourie and Evan Roos, with Vernon Matongo and Neethling Fouché providing prop cover, Riley Norton, Connor Evans and Roos covering the back-five forwards, and Wandisile Simelane joining Pead — who signed a four-year deal with the Cape Town-based outfit after a late switch from the Lions — as backline cover.
Dobson said the returning internationals had lifted preparations in a competitive selection week. “It has been really encouraging to see the way the players returning from national duty have stepped up this week and added immensely to our preparations. It was a tough team to select with many quality players missing out,” he said. “This weekend we also play our first match in the new Men in Black kit, which is a great nod to our past and something which resonates deeply with our fans. It is going to be a fantastic occasion at DHL Stadium on Saturday, beyond the rugby which will be typically intense. We hope that our fans come out in their numbers to enjoy every moment with us.” The fixture kicks off at 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA, with Morné Ferreira refereeing his 25th league game, assisted by Griffin Colby and Stephan Geldenhuys and with Quinton Immelman as TMO, live on SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4, Flo Rugby and URC.tv.