Siya Kolisi’s return to Cape Town and the DHL Stormers in July 2026 is a seismic homecoming that feels like destiny completing its loop.
For the Stormers, this is not merely the reacquisition of a loose forward with 118 caps in blue and white. It is the return of a double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok captain, a global rugby icon, and a leader whose shadow stretches far beyond the try line.
Kolisi’s arrival is set to steady the ship, sharpen the culture, and give Project 2029 its most powerful compass yet.
Cape Town is where Kolisi’s professional journey first kicked off after school, where raw promise was forged into resilience.
The icon @SiyaKolisi makes his return in July 2026. #inittogether pic.twitter.com/0astkJyQhJ
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 23, 2025
Now, after captaining South Africa to glory in 2019 and again in 2023, he returns battle-hardened, decorated, and driven by something deeper than silverware: legacy.
Kolisi said that returning to Cape Town is a significant moment for him and his family.
“I have such incredible memories of my time at the DHL Stormers, the way I was embraced by the fans in my formative years has never left me.
“My family is in Cape Town and it is important to me to be close to them. This move gives me the chance to do that while also giving back to the team and fans who made such a big contribution to the player and person I am today.
“I am looking forward to contributing in any way I can to the future success and happiness of this special club and its incredible supporters,”
Director of Rugby John Dobson said that Kolisi will add value to the squad in ways that no other player could.
“We have got an outstanding crop of loose forwards in our squad and a number of very strong young leaders, with the last three Junior Springbok captains all on our books.
“Siya will be able to help develop these players and mentor them in a way that nobody else could, given what he has achieved and what he represents to all South Africans and especially our fans.
“We are very aware of the load that he has carried professionally and personally over the last few years, but what is so encouraging is the way that he has bought into helping us reach the goals we have set for ourselves in developing our squad as we build towards Project 2029,” he said
Like a seasoned flyhalf reading the game two phases ahead, the franchise sees him as a mentor, a conduit between a talented new generation and the standards required to win on the biggest stages.
Project 2029 is about depth, maturity and sustainability, and Kolisi fits into that vision like a perfectly timed support line.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux did not mince words about the magnitude of the moment.
“Siya is a national icon who has such a strong connection to our team and our supporters. He is also a family man who wants to be there for his children as much as possible.
In rugby terms, Kolisi’s return is like slotting a proven captain back into the pack just as the next generation is learning to scrummage for dominance.
He brings calm to chaos, clarity to pressure moments, and a living blueprint of what leadership looks like when the stakes are World Cup-high.
For the Stormers faithful, this is a homecoming that stirs the soul. The prodigal son is not just back, he’s back to build, to guide, and to help carry the franchise forward.
When Siya Kolisi pulls on the jersey again, it will be a statement of the past, present and future of Stormers rugby binding together in one powerful embrace.
