The Stormers team, participating in the United Rugby Championship, has officially unveiled its squad of 56 players for the upcoming 2026/27 season. This list features well-known players such as Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, while the transfer process surrounding Hashim Pedda, the junior scrum-half, appears to have concluded.
According to a report by IOL Sport on Wednesday, Stormers declined the deal to bring the young scrum-half Pedda back to Cape Town because they could not reach an agreement with the Lions club regarding the transfer fee. The Lions insisted on a high price for releasing the talented 20-year-old player from his contract.
Although Ped was reportedly willing to contribute to the payment, his contract with the Johannesburg franchise is valid until 2028. Significant behind-the-scenes activity was observed during the last week as Stormers attempted to finalize the deal. It now seems likely that the scrum-half, who hails from Bo-Kaap, will remain in Johannesburg.
Stormers confirmed that Stefan Ungerer, Imad Khan, Kobus Reinhart, Ezekiel Ngobeni, and Jayden Brits will be options at position #9. The squad for the 26/27 season will be led by Ruhan Nel and includes many familiar faces, including Springboks Siya Kolisi, Vilko Lou, and Cheslin Kolbe, who began their professional careers with this franchise.
Overall, the squad comprises 17 international players, 15 of whom are Springboks, plus four stars from the Junior Springboks team that won the championship earlier this year. The season will kick off with two matches in the URC tour: the team will face Connacht in Galway, followed by a trip to Edinburgh. After that, they return to Cape Town for a derby against the Sharks on October 10, where a large number of Springboks may participate.
Stormers rugby director John Dobson believes this is the deepest Stormers squad in recent seasons, aligning with the goals of Project 2029. Dobson noted that last season the team achieved a record number of Stormers matches (1569), which serves as a benchmark for achieving Project 2029 goals.
He emphasized that thanks to a core of experienced players who have remained loyal to the club for a long time, the return of iconic players, and the emergence of young talent from the system, the team is well-prepared for development following last season, which included playoff games in Cape Town and facing top global club teams at home.
Dobson added that they possess a solid foundation of experienced players forming the backbone of the squad, with the intention of seriously competing in all areas this season. Furthermore, there is a pipeline of talent as the Stormers Rugby Institute continuously prepares players for promotion to the starting lineup. Despite a challenging start to the season, the group is ready to present itself to fans after pre-season training, and they eagerly await the start of games in Galway next week.
