The DHL Stormers will take the field at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday with a formidable array of national talent, as nine Springboks have been named in the starting lineup for theirInvestec Champions Cup clash against two-time champions Stade Rochelais.
The match, scheduled for 15:30, is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the pool stage, and the Stormers fresh off a 26–17 away win over Bayonne, are bolstering their ranks with returning stars.
You don't want to miss out on this one. Come watch Sacha and his teammates cook at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Warrick Gelant’s recovery from illness restores stability and counter-attacking quality to the backfield. He is joined by wings Dylan Maart and Leolin Zas, who continue to offer pace and finishing ability. Damian Willemse has been rested due to a slight hamstring niggle but is expected to return next week.
The midfield sees experienced centre Ruhan Nel reunited with Jonathan Roche, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach form a halfback pairing capable of dictating tempo and territorial pressure.
Who else is looking forward to seeing this guy in action for us in Gqeberha this weekend?
Evan Roos, influential off the bench last week, returns to the No. 8 jersey. Alongside Ben-Jason Dixon and Paul de Villiers, the loose trio is expected to play a crucial role in both breakdown intensity and defensive organisation.
In the tight five, locks JD Schickerling and captain Salmaan Moerat provide continuity and lineout strength. André-Hugo Venter starts at hooker, flanked by Springbok props Ntuthuko Mchunu and Neethling Fouché.
The bench offers significant depth, with JJ Kotzé, Connor Evans, Ruan Ackermann, Imad Khan and Wandisile Simelane, all starters in Bayonne, joined by experienced forwards Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi and Marcel Theunissen.
Director of Rugby John Dobson emphasised the challenge ahead:
“It was great to win away from home, but we have to back that up now and we know that it will take a big effort against a highly physical Stade Rochelais team. We always get such fantastic support in Gqeberha… we’re looking forward to a match with Test match intensity.
The final squad list will be officially confirmed by EPCR at 14:00 on Friday, with changes still permitted before the deadline.
Our team for the Investec Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais in Gqeberha on Saturday.
After eight years on the sidelines adidas has dusted off its boots and jogged back into the DHL Stormers’ starting XV as official technical sponsor.
The three stripes are back in Cape Town, and they’ve come to make a statement not just as a rugby kit, but as part of the culture.
“It’s a great honour for us to be reunited with the DHL Stormers again,” says Tom Brown, Senior Brand Director at adidas South Africa.
“The team and the dynamic way they play rugby embodies the flair and passion of their supporters. This partnership is about more than sport; it’s about honouring tradition whilst also celebrating a new era of bold ambition.”
Home Kit: Reunite the Stripes
The home jersey is rugby’s equivalent of a well-timed hand-off: classic, powerful, impossible to ignore. Those blue and white hoops are stitched like the DNA of Newlands itself.
It’s bold, uncompromising, and unapologetically Stormers. It’s heritage with a modern polish, a jersey that looks just as good under the Saturday sun as it does when drenched in the sweat of a one-point thriller.
It honours history with every stripe a reminder of where the club’s been, and every hoop a promise of where it’s going.
Away Kit: Remix the Stripes
The away jersey concept “Remix the Stripes” takes on a vibrant twist. Inspired by the spirited streets of Bo-Kaap, a neighbourhood known for its deep rugby heritage, cultural diversity and vibrantly decorated homes, the jersey bursts with electric hues of lucid pink, lime burst, and lucid cyan. A remix of tradition that celebrates freedom, energy, and individuality.
It’s rugby kit reimagined for a generation that refuses to blend in. Call it the sidestep to convention with a vibrant celebration of freedom, individuality, and the multicultural heartbeat of Cape Town. If the home kit is the anthem, the away jersey is the remix.
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said that having adidas back on board is a big moment for the team and their supporters.
“We are all thrilled to have adidas back and we know that our fans will embrace this move and the incredible kit that we will be playing in this season.
“The two designs speak to the rich rugby heritage of this region. The iconic blue and white hoops are synonymous with the rich history of rugby in the Cape, while the away jersey pays homage to the Bo-Kaap which has produced so many passionate rugby people over the years, including those who were involved in some of the first organised matches on the Green Point Common, just a stone’s throw away from our stadium.
“Our players and supporters will wear this kit with pride this season and we can’t wait to get going,” he said.
Kit Built for Collisions
Of course, flair is nothing without function. These aren’t jerseys made to hang politely in sports shops but they’re engineered for bruising battles in the trenches.
Crafted from 100% recycled polyester doubleknit, they wick away sweat quicker than a winger spotting space in the backfield. Lightweight yet stubbornly durable, with reinforced stitching in high-stress zones, they’re designed to hold up against the dark arts of the scrum.
The athletic fit is snug but never strangling. Think of it as a jersey that knows how to tackle but can still dance.
The Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For
At R999, Stormers fans can finally pull on the stripes and hoops once more. The home jersey drops on 19 September, while the Bo-Kaap-inspired away kit lands on 3 October.
The home jersey is available from 19 September, and the away jersey is available from 3 October at stormersshop.co.za, select adidas retail stores, adidas.co.za, select sports retailers and at DHL Stadium on matchdays.
Eight years apart, and now reunited. The DHL Stormers and adidas are back together and ready to charge head-down into a new era.
Stripes and hoops, stitched for glory, built to withstand hits harder than a Frans Malherbe scrum.
