What was meant to be a day of tribute and celebration at DHL Stadium ended in bitter disappointment for the Stormers, who slumped to a shock 33-24 United Rugby Championship defeat to Connacht on Saturday.
On an emotionally charged afternoon, the home side honoured long-time team managerChristopher “Chippie” Solomons, who died suddenly from a heart attack last week, while veteran hooker Scarra Ntubeni was set for a fitting farewell in his final appearance in blue and white.
Instead, the occasion turned into a nightmare.
With Solomons’ family receiving warm applause from the 13,903-strong crowd on a cold, wet Cape Town afternoon, the mood before kick-off was heavy with emotion. Tears flowed among players as the Stormers prepared for a match coach John Dobson had described as one “for Chippie”.
A moment bigger than the game. Respect, remembrance and rugby. A guard of honour for the DHL Stormers, honouring Chippie ❤️
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 18, 2026
By full-time, there was no comfort to be found.
The defeat not only denied the Stormers the chance to climb to the top of the URC table, it also left their play-off ambitions under fresh pressure. Connacht’s first-ever win over the Stormers in Cape Town lifted the Irish side from ninth to sixth, while the hosts remained second.
The Stormers appeared to have done enough when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu crashed over late in the second half to edge them ahead.
But the match swung dramatically moments later.
A costly error from the restart by replacement lock Ruben van Heerden handed Connacht the opening they needed, with scrumhalf Ben Murphy pouncing for a crucial try in the 71st minute to snatch a 26-24 lead and secure the visitors a bonus point.
Forced to chase the game, the Stormers unravelled.
Their expansive approach in slippery conditions proved costly, with loose passing and poor decision-making repeatedly placing them under pressure. That desperation was punished in the 77th minute when Connacht flyhalf Sean Naughton intercepted to race away for the decisive score.
Dobson admitted afterwards that his side had failed to adapt to the conditions.
“You are 100% correct. Yes, it was very frustrating. We shovelled rubbish out there for quite a bit of time. We did … We did,” he said.
The Stormers coach conceded his side should have played a more territorial game.
“We were loose throughout. There were a couple of patches in the first half that we spoke about where we shuffled it around too much.
“I thought we were very loose. We said at halftime, let’s be more direct and limit the passing on attack.
“But we kept shovelling the ball back repeatedly and conceded a penalty for sealing off.”
Dobson felt the Stormers strayed from a winning blueprint that was already working.
“It felt at times we needed to invent to beat them, when in reality the template was there to do it; we saw it with our mauling getting on top.”
He also pointed to key moments that shifted momentum.
“We had their maul on the ropes, and at one instance we had a quick throw in to Warrick Gelant, but then Damian Willemse threw a forward pass, Connacht got the scrum and ended up scoring.”
The emotional week, Dobson said, could not be used as an excuse, though he acknowledged the impact it had.
“We can’t use Chippie’s thing as an excuse, but it was a helluva week.”
Captain Ruhan Nel echoed his coach’s frustration.
“I felt we did more than enough in that game to put ourselves in the correct positions.
“I felt we defended great at certain times and then there were a lack of concentration due to simple decisions.”
The defeat leaves the Stormers with little room for error heading into a massive clash against the Glasgow Warriors next week, before a demanding two-match tour against Ulster Rugby and Cardiff Rugby.
“Massive… to get nothing out of this game is very disappointing,” Dobson said.
“We now have to win all three to get where we want to be, but that’s much easier said than done.
“We’ve put ourselves in a bit of a position now.”
For the Stormers, a day that began with tribute ended with a bruising reminder that sentiment alone does not win rugby matches.
The Blitzboks head into the Hong Kong Sevenswith renewed energy and a clear mission to deliver a complete performance as the World Championship phase kicks off.
Zain Davids returns to the squad refreshed after missing the Vancouver and New York legs, determined to make an impact at a tournament where South Africa are still chasing their first title.
“We are starting this Championship at the same venue and with no log points,” Davids said. “What happened in the past counts for nothing, but what happens this weekend will.
“We have never won here, fair enough, but that is not consuming us. What we want is to be on the same page, execute our game plan as one, and take it one game at a time. For now, that is Uruguay, and from there on in, we’ll take each challenge as it comes.”
Davids said the squad rotation plan has left him physically primed.
“You always want to play in every tournament, but coach Philip laid out his plans… so we all knew that we could be rested along the way,” he said.
“I use the word rested in italics, as our strength and conditioning coach, Ghafoer Luckan, keeps a very sharp eye on our prescribed fitness programme.
“So, I am fit and ready for this one. I’m feeling refreshed and keen to get another trophy win.”
He added that strong South African support in Hong Kong adds extra motivation.
“In a way, if we go all out and finish on top, it will be as much for them as for us.”
Captain Impi Visser believes the series winners must raise their attacking standards despite claiming four titles this season.
All the captains at the Hong Kong Sevens Photo Credit: SA Rugby
“Yes, we are not quite there yet, especially on attack, where we can be much better than what we were in our last tournament in New York,” said Visser.
“There our defence was outstanding, our attack not so much.”
The Blitzboks face Uruguay, Spain and Argentina in Pool A, with Visser stressing the need for focus from the opening match.
“We believe we are the best team on the circuit and as such, we want to prove that by winning this weekend,” he said.
“Being the top ranked team will put a target on our backs, but that is fine. We want to be challenged, but mostly by ourselves.
“Our focus is on what we want to achieve, starting with the match against Uruguay.”
Visser warned against complacency in a tournament where all teams start level.
“We all start at zero, so you underestimate any other team at your own peril,” he said.
“Twelve teams come into the same tournament hoping to achieve the same goal and that is to win it.”
He also underlined the significance of the Hong Kong stop on the sevens circuit.
“Many great names in the game have played and competed here. Just to be part of this is special, to finally finish victorious will be even more so.”
South Africa’s four franchises turned home ground into a fortress during Round 13 of the United Rugby Championship, delivering a clean sweep of bonus-point victories that sent a surge of momentum through the playoff race.
The Vodacom Bulls, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers all triumphed in front of their home supporters, creating a weekend that echoed with the rhythm of attacking rugby and relentless forward play.
With five pool matches remaining, the Stormers climbed to second on the standings with 46 points behind the Glasgow Warriors on 50. The Lions occupy seventh place with 38 points, the Bulls hold eighth on 35, and the Sharks remain in the hunt in 11th with 29.
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 22, 2026
Bulls power past Cardiff
The Bulls ignited the weekend with a commanding 40-7 victory over Cardiff Rugby in Pretoria.
Cardiff opened the scoring in the third minute when Harri Millard crossed for a try converted by Callum Sheedy. That early breakthrough stirred the Bulls pack into action. Marcell Coetzee crashed over from a driving maul before Johann Grobbelaar followed through the same channel minutes later.
The backline soon joined the charge as Kurt-Lee Arendse released David Kriel for the third try. Embrose Papier added another after sharp interplay, and Elrigh Louw gathered a perfectly weighted cross kick from Nizaam Carr shortly before halftime to give the Bulls a 33-7 lead.
Ruan Vermaak scored the only try of the second half as the Pretoria side secured a six-try bonus-point victory.
Scorers
Vodacom Bulls 40 (33) Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Johann Grobbelaar, David Kriel, Embrose Papier, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Vermaak Conversions: Handre Pollard (4), David Kriel
Cardiff 7 (7) Try: Harri Millard Conversion: Callum Sheedy
Lions roar at Ellis Park
The Lions followed with a spectacular 54-17 triumph over Edinburgh Rugby at Ellis Park.
The Johannesburg side stormed to a four-try bonus point within the opening 26 minutes through Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Darrien Landsberg and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who celebrated his 100th appearance with a try. Bronson Mills added another before halftime as the Lions surged to a 35-0 lead.
Edinburgh responded with three second-half tries, though the Lions maintained their attacking rhythm. Angelo Davids crossed twice with blistering pace and Haashim Pead sealed the eight-try performance shortly before the final whistle.
Scorers
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions 54 (35) Tries: Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Darrien Landsberg, Morne van den Berg, Bronson Mills, Angelo Davids (2), Haashim Pead Conversions: Chris Smith (7)
Edinburgh 17 (0) Tries: Ewan Ashman, Freddy Douglas, Matt Currie Conversion: Cammy Scott
Sharks and Stormers complete the sweep
In Durban, the Sharks produced one of their most complete displays of the season, shutting out Munster Rugby 45-0 at Kings Park. The Durban side combined powerful defence with swift attacking strikes to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Stormers closed the weekend in Cape Town with a 29-21 victory over Dragons RFC. The Cape side blended forward power with attacking flair to claim another five-point haul and cement their place near the top of the table.
Across four cities and four matches, South Africa’s franchises marched in unison. Each victory carried the same message across the competition. The playoff race has entered its decisive stretch, and the local teams are charging forward with growing confidence.
The race to the quarter-finals of the United Rugby Championship (URC)is gathering pace, and South Africa’s four franchises step onto the field this weekend knowing every tackle, turnover and try could shape their playoff destiny.
Round 13 promises a festival of rugby on home soil as the Vodacom Bulls, Fidelity Securedrive Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers host European opposition in matches that could shift the balance of the standings.
With six pool rounds remaining, the margin between first and ninth place is razor thin. Only 15 points separate log leaders the Glasgow Warriors and ninth-placed Connacht Rugby, leaving fourteen teams still chasing the coveted top-eight positions.
That compressed log has turned the URC table into a battlefield where every point is fought for like a loose ball in a ruck.
The DHL Stormers sit second and continue to lead the South African charge. The Vodacom Bulls and Fidelity Securedrive Lions remain firmly in the playoff conversation, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks know the road ahead demands near perfection if they want to muscle their way into the knockout rounds.
Bulls Seek Loftus Redemption
The Vodacom Bulls return to their Pretoria fortress at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night with a clear objective after last weekend’s bruising defeat to the DHL Stormers.
Standing in their path are Cardiff Rugby, a side that has tasted defeat only four times this season and arrives with confidence after a victory over Leinster Rugby.
The Bulls remain formidable on their home turf. Only two visiting sides have escaped Loftus with victories this season, and the altitude has long served as a silent teammate for the men in blue.
Statistically the Bulls carry the sharper attacking blade, having scored 83 more points than Cardiff so far. Cardiff’s defensive line has proven more resilient, which means the hosts must convert pressure into points when opportunities appear.
Missed chances proved costly last weekend. A more clinical performance could turn Loftus into the launching pad for another climb up the standings.
Lions Look to Roar Again at Ellis Park
Momentum has been building in Johannesburg where the Fidelity Securedrive Lions have rediscovered their bite.
Victories against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers have injected fresh confidence into the Pride ahead of their clash with Edinburgh Rugby at Ellis Park Stadium.
The Lions have lost only once at home in the competition and their attacking rhythm has been electric, with nearly 90 more points scored than the Scottish side.
Edinburgh, however, travel with a reputation for resilience. Only one of their away defeats has been by more than eight points, a statistic that suggests the contest could unfold like a tactical arm-wrestle before the tempo lifts.
If the Lions’ attacking spark catches fire again, Ellis Park could witness another high-tempo performance from a side that thrives on broken play and open grass.
Sharks Face Must-Win Battle Against Munster
The stakes could hardly be higher for the Hollywoodbets Sharks when they face Munster Rugby in Durban.
Two successive defeats have slowed the Sharks’ momentum and left them outside the playoff zone. The Durban side trails Munster by five places on the table and holds half as many victories after twelve rounds.
That scenario leaves little room for error.
The Sharks’ attack has produced slightly more points than Munster this season, though their defensive structure has leaked too many opportunities. Tightening that system will be critical if they hope to control the contest at Kings Park Stadium.
Munster’s reputation for physical forward play and tactical discipline means the Sharks will need to strike early and maintain intensity across the full eighty minutes.
Their recent back-to-back victories against the Stormers earlier in the season showed what the Durban outfit can achieve when rhythm and belief align.
Stormers Eye Top Spot Opportunity
Sunday afternoon in Cape Town could provide the DHL Stormers with an opportunity to climb to the summit of the URC table.
The defending champions host Dragons RFC at DHL Stadium with the knowledge that a bonus-point victory could propel them into first place should the Glasgow Warriors stumble against Leinster Rugby.
The Stormers rediscovered their rhythm last weekend after ending a three-match losing run with a powerful display against the Bulls. Their record of nine victories compared to the Dragons’ two places them firmly among the favourites.
Cape Town’s coastal venue has often felt like a tidal surge for visiting teams. When the Stormers’ attacking waves gather momentum, they can crash through defensive lines with relentless force.
A strong finish to the remaining six matches could secure a valuable home playoff fixture, a prize that would place the Stormers in a powerful position as the tournament approaches its knockout phase.
Veteran Springbok loose forwardDeon Fourie is poised for a welcome return for the Stormersafter a gruelling two-year battle with injuries, with the Cape side hoping his presence can spark a response against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
The 39-year-old has endured a frustrating stretch on the sidelines after a sequence of injuries that kept him out for most of the past two seasons.
Speaking to journalists at theStormersHigh Performance Centre in Bellville on Wednesday after a training session in searing heat, Fourie said he was grateful to be back in contention.
“Yeah, feeling fresh,” Fourie said. “I think next month, almost exactly two years ago, I started the injury route. I’m back now and I’m very, very grateful to be back. I worked hard and credit to the physios and management that got me lucky.”
His recovery journey included an ACL injury followed by further setbacks.
“After my ACL I did four games and then my ankle, then one game and then my biceps,” he explained.
Fourie’s comeback could hardly come in a bigger fixture, with the Stormers travelling to Pretoria for one of South African rugby’s fiercest rivalries.
“It’s always special,” he said. “Playing against the Bulls, all the history involved in that and all the times I’ve played against them. It’s a great game to come back to. It gets the best out of everyone.”
Match fitness remains an unknown after such a lengthy absence, though Fourie believes the team’s demanding preparation will help.
“Game fitness and running fitness aren’t the same,” he said. “But after this week in 40 degrees for two days I think I’ll be fine. We’ll see. It’s up at Loftus with a bit of altitude as well, but luckily we’ve got a great player in Paul de Villiers on the bench who can step in.”
The veteran admitted the latest injury tested him mentally, even raising thoughts about retirement.
“Especially the last injury it was quite tough,” Fourie said. “There were a lot of emotions and a lot of questions running through my mind. But that was always my motto. I like to prove people wrong.”
For now, the focus is on simply getting through his return match.
“My first objective is to get through the first game injury free and do it well. Then we’ll see how the body is,” he said. “In two years I’ve only played about five games so maybe my age turned back two years. I’m only 38 now,” he quipped.
The Stormers head to Pretoria seeking to halt a three-match losing run, a stretch that has frustrated the squad.
“It’s important for morale and confidence,” Fourie said. “You need that W again. The frustrating thing the last three weeks was the quality of how we played. We’ll try to rectify that this weekend.”
Despite the pressure, Fourie expects the squad to embrace the occasion at Loftus, a venue known for its intimidating atmosphere.
“That’s why you want to go play there,” he said. “The atmosphere builds you, motivates you. That’s why we play rugby, to enjoy it as well and to win there.”
The Stormers will hope their returning veteran can bring the type of grit and breakdown steel that has defined his long career as they attempt to wrestle momentum back in the United Rugby Championship.
The squad departs on Sunday, 15 February, and returns on 28 February.
Foote’s selection blends continuity with fresh talent. Four members of last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship-winning side return: loosehead props Ollie Reid and Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka, hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele, and lock Riley Norton, who captained the Junior Boks to the title in Italy.
The touring group was finalised after a three-week training camp in Stellenbosch, which included high-tempo matches against FNB Varsity Cup sides Maties and UCT.
“We have had a very productive period in Stellenbosch, and I believe the matches against UCT and Maties gave us a clear indication of where we are in terms of technical and tactical preparation,” said Foote.
The tour also forms part of South Africa’s build-up to defending their world crown in June and July, also in Georgia.
“Georgia is a challenging place to play, especially with the sub-zero temperatures expected, but this is exactly the kind of test we need to build resilience,” Foote said.
“We are looking for growth in our set-piece dominance and cohesion as we begin our 2026 campaign.
“They are a well-coached team with a lot of experience returning from last year’s international season. We expect very physical encounters, which is exactly what we need for our preparations.”
Foote added that the broader vision includes building depth for future campaigns.
“We are also building for 2027 by giving new players the opportunity to experience international rugby. This tour is a vital step in that regard.”
Several players eligible for the 2027 cycle have been included, among them Gert Kemp, Ethan Adams, Markus Muller, Zekhethelo Siyaya and Luan Giliomee, who recently represented the Blitzboks and helped the Springbok Sevens win the HSBC SVNS Perth title.
Injury concerns ruled out Vuyo Gwiji (loose forward), Pieter van der Merwe (centre) and Alzeadon Felix (fullback), while flyhalf Vusi Moyo continues his rehabilitation. All are targeting a return for the U20 Rugby Championship in April and May.
Speedy wing Cheswill Jooste is currently on Vodacom United Rugby Championship duty with the Bulls and is expected to link up with the squad later in the season.
Foote admitted that narrowing down the group was not easy.
“The full training group made it very hard to decide on a 31-man travelling party. Players such as AJ Meyer (lock) and Reinhardt Viljoen (fullback) put their hands up for consideration and remain firmly in the mix for future camps leading into the Rugby Championship,” he said.
With Norton providing leadership up front and Ahmed poised to guide proceedings at flyhalf, the Junior Boks will look to use the Georgian tour as a critical stepping stone towards another shot at global success.
Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), James Schnetler (Fidelity ADT Lions), Riley Norton (captain, DHL Western Province), JD Hattingh (Fidelity ADT Lions).
Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity ADT Lions), Mumbere “Wasi” Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Luke Canon (Fidelity ADT Lions), Gert Kemp (DHL WP), Reuben Kruger (DHL Western Province).
Scrumhalves: Matthew Fick (Vodacom Bulls), Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls).
Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Western Province), Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Centres: Markus Muller (DHL Western Province), Ethan Adams (Fidelity ADT Lions), Christian Vorster (Vodacom Bulls), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Western Province).
Outside backs: Dylan Miller (DHL Western Province), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Steenkamp (DHL Western Province), Lindsey Jansen (Vodacom Bulls).
Fixtures (Tbilisi): 18 February – SA U20 vs Lelo Saracens 22 February – SA U20 vs Georgia U20 27 February – SA U20 vs Georgia U20
The Springbok Women’s Sevens claimed the HSBC SVNS 3 title in Dubai on Sunday after an unbeaten tournament highlighted by strong defence, effective attack and disciplined teamwork, according to head coach Cecil Afrika.
South Africa topped their pool on Saturday before defeating Poland in the semi-finals and coming from behind to beat Argentina 12-5 in the final.
The victory marked Afrika’s second consecutive tournament title since taking over as coach in October, following the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup triumph in Nairobi in November.
“It was a great win and the players deserve all the credit – we really defended well, but our attack also proved very effective,” said Afrika.
He said the team struck the right balance between defence and attack throughout the tournament.
“Overall, I think we got the balance right at this tournament. When we needed to, we defended our line very well and when the opportunity came, we could switch to attack and scored some really nice tries.”
Afrika emphasised collective effort as key to the team’s defensive success.
“One of the keys to a successful defensive effort is for players to work hard for each other, getting back in line, getting back off the floor to get in position and to trust the system and not try things on your own.”
The Dubai title secures qualification for the HSBC SVNS 2 series, with three tournaments to follow, starting in Nairobi on 14–15 February.
Afrika also acknowledged squad members who did not travel to Dubai.
“We must also acknowledge those players who did not travel this time but are part of the squad,” he said. “They helped us with our preparation and I am happy to say we got our tactics and game analisys right also.”
The team will depart Dubai later on Sunday and arrive in Cape Town at 11:00 on Monday.
Selected stats: Most points – Nadine Roos (54: four tries, 17 conversions) Most tries – Maria Tshiremba (7)
TheDHL Stormersmay have booked their place in the Investec Champions Cup play-offswith a 39–26 win overLeicester Tigers at DHL Stadium on Saturday, but this was less a polished symphony and more a garage band that occasionally forgot the chords.
Yes, the scoreboard says five tries to four. Yes, the Stormers marched into the last-16 in front of an enthusiastic Cape Town crowd of 25 000.
But context matters, and this particular Tiger arrived with more stripes missing than a clearance-sale jersey. A significantly weakened Leicester side, shorn of several frontline names, still managed to bare its teeth often enough to expose some worrying cracks in the Stormers’ armour.
JD Schickerling with the show and go 🤩🌩️
The DHL Stormers lead by six with five minutes to play ⏱️
The home side started like a team keen to make an early statement. Evan Roos thundered over for the opener after Jonny Roche’s midfield burst split the defence, before André-Hugo Venter peeled off a maul to make it 12–0. At that point, it looked like traffic control rather than a contest.
Then the Stormers remembered their habit of inviting chaos. Two quick Leicester tries, through George Pearson and Will Wand, flipped the scoreboard to 14–12 and highlighted how quickly defensive alignment can evaporate when concentration wobbles.
For long spells, the Stormers looked like a side playing fast-forward without checking the mirrors. Passes went to ground, exits were optional, and defensive spacing sometimes resembled a group photo taken mid-blink. Leicester didn’t need their full complement to punch holes; the Stormers generously supplied the gaps themselves.
The hosts regained the lead at the break thanks only to Leicester’s kindness and new skipper Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s boot, after Dylan Maart fumbled what should have been a walk-in try. It was 15–14 at halftime, advantage Stormers, but with the handbrake still half on.
Leicester struck first again after the restart with a maul try to reclaim the lead, underlining just how vulnerable the Stormers were when the basics slipped. The response, though, captured the essence of this side: chaotic, brilliant, risky and entertaining in equal measure. Leolin Zas finished off a slick passage of offloads for the Stormers’ third, dragging momentum back their way.
The game teetered again when Feinberg-Mngomezulu saw yellow, reducing the Stormers to 14 men, usually the cue for consolidation. Instead, JD Schickerling produced an outrageous dummy more suited to a centre than a lock, carving open the defence to score the bonus-point try and turn disbelief into delight.
Replacement scrumhalf Imad Khan added the final flourish at the death, his try stretching the scoreline into something that suggested control rather than the rollercoaster reality.
Replacement scrumhalf Imad Khan provided a spark. Photo: Rashied Isaacs
The Stormers’ attack still flickered with moments of brilliance, because that’s their DNA, but too often it came wrapped in loose decision-making. It’s champagne rugby, once more, served in a paper cup. When it worked, it sparkled. When it didn’t, it fizzed out spectacularly.
Defensively, the warning lights flashed brightest. For a side with ambitions of lifting Europe’s biggest prize, conceding soft metres and broken-field opportunities against a patched-up opponent is the rugby equivalent of leaving your front door open and hoping no one notices.
This was a match the Stormers should have controlled with one hand on the wheel and the other on the gearstick. Instead, they veered between dominance and disorder, brilliance and brain fade, sometimes within the same phase.
The truth is simple: knockout rugby does not grade on flair alone. The further you go, the less forgiving the margins become. European heavyweights won’t offer second chances, and they certainly won’t arrive missing half their starters.
If the Stormers genuinely want to go all the way in this competition, the basics must stop being optional extras. Tackle completion, exit accuracy, set-piece pressure and defensive spacing are not glamorous, but they are non-negotiable.
Winning ugly still counts. Winning sloppy comes with a warning label. The Stormers advanced to the last 16 of the Champions Cup and will now tackle French Giants Toulon at the Stade Mayol in the South of France in April.
Unless John Dobson’s charges tighten the bolts, sharpen the fundamentals and start respecting the small moments, Europe’s elite will make them pay with interest.
For the Stormers switch their attention to the Vodacom URCwhere they host the Sharks in Cape Town on Saturday.
STORMERS – Tries: Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter, Leolin Zas, JD Schickerling, Imad Khan. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3), Khan (1). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Khan. LEICESTER TIGERS – Tries: George Pearson, Will Wand, Jamie Blamire, Tom Manz. Conversions: Billy Searle (3).
Most matriculants spent results day pacing the house, refreshing WhatsApp and bargaining with the rugby gods. Markus Muller? He was at Stormers training.
Yes, while his classmates waited nervously for envelopes and emojis, the Paarl Gymnasium captain and South Africa Under-18 centre had his boots on and his head down at his first Stormers session, leaving his mom to do the official results run.
“I asked my mom to collect my results,” Muller laughed in an entertaining interview conducted by veteran prop Neethling Fouche using a Red Bull energy drink can as a microphone.
“During training, when I had time off, I looked at my phone, and my mom sent me a picture.”
Welcome to modern rugby: professional contracts, professional gyms and matric results via WhatsApp.
Muller passed, and passed the vibe check too.
“I was ‘quite’ happy with having passed his matric exam,” he said. “I was a bit nervous, but it was fun.”
The timing could not have been more poetic. On the same day his school chapter closed, a professional one cracked open. Like a winger ditching the safe kick for touch and backing himself, Muller chose the Stormers call over the school hall queue.
Markus Muller at the Stormers High Performance Centre in Bellville on Tuesday Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
He is one of a bumper crop of schoolboy stars already snapped up by the Cape franchise for 2026 and beyond. Joining Muller from Paarl Gym is loose forward Quintin Potgieter, while the wider class includes Alutha Wesi (Rondebosch Boys), centres Randall-John Davids, prop Matt van der Merwe and wing Jordan Steenkamp, hooker Altus Rabe and loose forward Gert Kemp (Paul Roos).
Wynberg Boys flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed, Boland Landbou scrumhalf Jayden Brits and Grey College lock AJ Meyer are the other prodigies on the Stormers books.
These names might sound that is comes from a matric class list. However, it’s more like a Craven Week highlight reel.
Stormers wing Leolin Zas has already had his first look at the teenage midfield star, having watched him shine at Craven Week. His first impression? Talent, nerves and plenty of upside.
“His first day was yesterday [Tuesday], and he looked a bit nervous,” said the 30-year-old back of the 18-year-old. “I can’t wait to share some things with him.”
Muller, described as the best schoolboy centre in the country last year, is already talking like a team man rather than a headline hunter. If the Stormers need him to do the dirty work, he’s keen.
The young midfielder said he would happily answer the Stormers’ call to pack down in a scrum if the need arises, but he would like to be part of a maul as well.
In other words: give him a jersey and tell him where to push.
Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson says the flood of local talent is no accident, but a carefully built pathway that keeps Western Cape rugby feeding itself.
“Our contracting model is to look at local talent from the region first as a way to keep strengthening the pathway system,” Dobson said.
He believes the current intake shows the production line is alive, well and hitting peak form.
“The strong intake of local talent is extremely encouraging as the Stormers look to build significant depth by drawing on the best that the schools in the Western Cape have to offer,” he said.
“We have seen a few big success stories in recent years, with the likes of Damian Willemse, Salmaan Moerat, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, JD Schickerling and Suleiman Hartzenberg all coming through our system to become household names.
“We expect the same to happen with many of these players who will join our environment next year and we are not done here, with a few more significant names set to be added to this list in the near future.”
As for Muller, his matric certificate may still be at home, but his boots are already in the Stormers locker room. One chapter closed, another opened. No study leave required.
The bruises from the north–south derby are still tender, but the Stormers have little time to admire their handiwork. The Vodacom Bullswere a familiar foe, a known storm navigated through discipline and resolve. Europe, however, offers a different climate altogether, and Champions Cup week arrives with no mercy for hesitation.
The Stormers’ 13–8 URC win over the Bulls was a contest decided by defensive steel and belief rather than fluency. Yet it was precisely that type of victory which sharpened the focus of head coach John Dobson as the conversation turned north, toward London and a showdown with Harlequins.
Dobson revealed that even as the derby teetered on a knife-edge at 8–8, his faith in the Stormers’ defensive structure never wavered.
“It’s going to sound a bit full of hubris, but I never was worried in that game,” Dobson said.
“It sounds curious and I really don’t mean that with any kind of arrogance, but the way we defended even in the first half, it just didn’t feel like we were under any sort of defensive pressure.
“Our defence was really, really good and I didn’t feel like they were going to open us up.”
That confidence was rewarded when Ntuthuko Mchunu powered over in the 79th minute, extending the Stormers’ unbeaten run across the URC and Investec Champions Cup to 10 matches. More importantly, it reinforced a mindset which captain Salmaan Moerat believes has become second nature within the squad.
“I do think it becomes a habit. We don’t want to sound arrogant at all, but we’ve been in deeper holes before,” Moerat said. “If you look back at that Munster game in Limerick, I don’t think many people gave us a chance. In that first half we were down to 13 men for 20 minutes away from home, and we managed to win that game. “That does give you belief that there’s something in the tank and that the boys will pull it through.”
That belief now travels with the Stormers into Europe, where the broader stakes extend beyond a single fixture. Dobson has been clear that South African teams must shift from participants to contenders if they are to reshape the Champions Cup landscape.
“I think South African teams need to try and make a statement to host playoffs in Europe, and we’re in a position after that Bayonne win where we can have a go at it,” he said. “But to win in London will be really tough.”
Harlequins pose a very different puzzle to the Bulls’ direct approach. Their game thrives on tempo, width and broken-field chaos. It’s he rugby equivalent of moving from trench warfare to aerial combat. For the Stormers, the challenge will be maintaining defensive cohesion without blunting their own ambition.
Yet if the derby victory offered a glimpse of anything, it is that this Stormers side is increasingly comfortable living in the tension. They may not dominate territory or possession, but they dominate moments. And in Europe, moments decide seasons.
Champions Cup weekwill test their depth, discipline and nerve, but the Stormers arrive not as tourists, but as a team convinced it belongs on this stage.
