CAPE TOWN – The DHL Stormers are putting history back on the rugby rack.
With adidas once again at their side, the Stormers have unveiled their 2026/27 Home and Away jerseys, a two-kit throwback to the club’s deep roots and its restless appetite for the future.
The theme is “Roots Run Deep”, and few rugby jerseys carry more emotional mileage than the blue-and-white hoops.
For generations, those hoops have been a second skin for Western Cape supporters, worn from Newlands to the farthest corners of the rugby world. They carry memories, heartbreak, triumph and tribal pride, with the famous three adidas stripes now marching alongside them.
The Home jersey keeps the DNA intact. The familiar blue and white hoops remain the heartbeat of the design, while a white collar adds a traditional rugby flourish. It is old-school tailoring with modern muscle, built for a game that moves at breakneck speed.
The Away jersey takes a more dramatic detour, reaching back to the legendary 1999 “Men in Black” era. The all-black design resurrects one of the most distinctive looks in Stormers history, giving it a contemporary edge that could make it as comfortable in the stands as it is under the stadium lights.
Tom Brown, Senior Brand Director at adidas South Africa, said the collection deliberately draws on one of the most successful chapters of the partnership.
“The DHL Stormers and adidas have such a distinguished history and we were inspired to continue to draw inspiration from one of the most successful chapters in the partnership,” said Brown.
“This season was about doubling down on what makes rugby in the Western Cape iconic. The hoops, the blue and white home jersey complimented by the Men in Black away jersey, both boldly celebrate the connection with the people and communities who support this team.”
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson believes both jerseys will resonate with players and supporters.
“The home jersey with the white collar which we played in against New Zealand is the closest to our traditional colours there has ever been and the away jersey is something special which looks incredible whether you are old enough to remember the Men in Black era or not,” he said.
Stormers Rugby Chief Commercial Officer Leontine De Sutter said the designs capture a club with one foot firmly planted in its history and another striding into tomorrow.
“Both our home and away kits are classic in that they reference the past and the deep connection our fans feel with our team. They are also beautifully designed and something our fans will be proud to wear both to our matches and any other occasion,” she said.
Under the nostalgia sits modern performance technology. The lightweight jerseys are engineered for freedom of movement and the physical demands of elite rugby, giving the players armour for the modern battlefield while allowing supporters to wear their colours with pride.
The hoops tell the story. The black shirt adds a new chapter.
And if rugby shirts could talk, these two would have plenty to say.
