The DHL Stormers have loaded the cannon.
With 56 players, 17 internationals, 15 Springboks, four Junior Springbok champions and 18 survivors from their historic 2021/22 Vodacom URC triumph, John Dobson’s squad enters the 2026/27 season carrying enough ammunition to make Cape Town rugby rather noisy.
The question is no longer whether the Stormers possess talent. It is whether this formidable collection can turn depth into silverware.
Captain Ruhan Nel leads a squad where experience runs through the veins. Deon Fourie, with a staggering 141 Stormers caps, remains the old warhorse, while Neethling Fouché has clocked 114 appearances. Siya Kolisi returns with 118 caps, Marcel Theunissen has 95 and André-Hugo Venter 89.
@THESTORMERS squad locked and loaded for 26/27 season
https://t.co/FaDKEIZgLQ— Adnaan Mohamed (@Adnaan1111) September 17, 2026
That is a formidable locker-room heartbeat.
And then there is the cavalry coming home.
Kolisi, Wilco Louw and Cheslin Kolbe return to Cape Town, bringing a combined 219 Stormers appearances and a mountain of Test experience. Kolbe, with 49 caps for the club, adds another layer of electricity to an already combustible backline.
The blue-and-white production line is also humming.
Paul de Villiers and Zachary Porthen broke through to the Springbok setup after outstanding Stormers seasons, while four members of the Junior Springboks’ championship-winning team have joined the senior ranks.
Dobson believes this is the deepest Stormers squad in recent seasons.
“Last season, we fielded a team that had 1,569 DHL Stormers caps between them, which was the most in the history of the club and a marker that we want to build on as we seek to realise the goals of Project 2029.”
That statistic tells its own story. Experience is no longer sprinkled across the squad like seasoning. It is the main ingredient.
“Given the experienced core we have who have stayed loyal to us for so long, the iconic players returning to the fold and the young talent coming through our system, we feel well-positioned to build on last season, which saw us host play-off rugby in Cape Town and push some of the best club teams in the world in knock-out matches on their home turf,” Dobson said.
The Stormers’ challenge arrives immediately.
They open with a two-match URC tour against Connacht in Galway before travelling to Edinburgh. There will be no gentle stroll into the season. The road starts with a punch in the mouth.
Then comes a four-match October feast at DHL Stadium, beginning with the Hollywoodbets Sharks on October 10.
That fixture has sold out for the past two seasons, and with Springboks returning on both sides, the derby promises to crackle.
Bristol Bears follow in the Investec Champions Cup before URC clashes against Scarlets and Ulster complete a brutal Cape Town stretch.
Dobson says the squad has been built to compete everywhere.
“We have a solid base of experienced players who form the backbone of the squad, with the intention to compete seriously on all fronts this season, while we also have the talent pipeline in place, with the Stormers Rugby Institute continually developing players that are ready to step into the senior squad.”
The ambition is audacious. The blueprint is Project 2029. The rugby begins in Galway.
“We face a challenging start to the season, but after putting in the work in pre-season this group is ready to represent our fans and we cannot wait to get started in Galway next week.”
Cape Town’s blue machine is fuelled.
Now it needs to fire.
DHL Stormers 26/27 squad (DHL Stormers caps in brackets)
* denotes under-21 players
Props
Neethling Fouché (114), Oli Kebble (57), Sazi Sandi (52), Wilco Louw (52), Vernon Matongo (22), Ntuthuko Mchunu (19), Zachary Porthen (15), Hencus van Wyk (2), Herman Lubbe* (1), Olly Reid* (1)
Hookers
André-Hugo Venter (89), JJ Kotzé (58), Lukhanyo Vokozela (4), Vernon Paulo (0), Luca Bakkes (0)
Locks
JD Schickerling (74), Adré Smith (69), Connor Evans (40), Gary Porter (19), Riley Norton* (0)
Loose Forwards
Deon Fourie (141), Siya Kolisi (118), Marcel Theunissen (95), Evan Roos (87), Ben-Jason Dixon (86), Hacjivah Dayimani (64), Paul de Villiers (36), Keke Morabe (19), Louw Nel (13), Ruan Ackermann (10), Wandile Mlaba* (2), Divan Fuller* (0)
Scrumhalves
Stefan Ungerer (47), Imad Khan (18), Cobus Reinach (9), Ezekiel Ngobeni (0), Jayden Brits* (0)
Flyhalves
Jean-Luc du Plessis (61), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (53), Jurie Matthee (29), Yaqeen Ahmed* (1), Kyle Smith* (0)
Centres
Ruhan Nel (90), Wandisile Simelane (41), Jonathan Roche (16), Markus Muller* (1), Josh Boulle (0)
Wings
Leolin Zas (99), Seabelo Senatla (74) Cheslin Kolbe (49), JC Mars* (3), Mfundo Ndhlovu (1), Joel Leotlela (0), Gino Cupido* (0)
Fullbacks
Damian Willemse (118), Warrick Gelant (77)
