Less than 2km from the cobbled streets of Dorp Street in the Bo-Kaap where he grew up, Haashim Pead will have the chance to complete one of the most compelling homecomings in Cape rugby.
The 21-year-old scrumhalf sensation is set to make his DHL Stormers debut from the bench against the Hollywoodbets Sharks at DHL Stadium on Saturday, returning to the team he dreamt of playing for as a child.
Building up to be a big one on Saturday.
🎟️ https://t.co/JFWS04Tn4T #STOvSHA #inittogether @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/SdpPbQoLoB
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 6, 2026
Pead announced himself on the global stage by winning Player of the Tournament at the 2025 World Rugby Under-20 Championship, turning heads with his electric running, quick service and instinctive attacking play.
The Lions moved swiftly to secure his services, although opportunities in Johannesburg were limited.
His four-year Stormers contract now brings him home.
And home, in Pead’s case, is remarkably close to the stadium where his dream is about to become reality.
The Stormers have named 11 Springboks in their match-day squad for their first home Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture of the season. Seven returning internationals are set to make their first Stormers appearances of the campaign.
Seven Boks come in for DHL Stormers https://t.co/nl7Akhq3IZ
— Adnaan Mohamed (@Adnaan1111) October 7, 2026
Pead wears No 22 on a bench loaded with experience, including 40-year-old and 141-cap Stormers veteran Deon Fourie.
“It is fantastic to be able to name a team like this which is full of exceptional talents, from Deon Fourie with 141 DHL Stormers caps through to Haashim Pead who makes his first appearance for us,” Director of Rugby John Dobson said.
“It has been really encouraging to see the way the players returning from national duty have stepped up this week and added immensely to our preparations. It was a tough team to select with many quality players missing out.”
The starting backline has plenty of attacking horsepower, with Damian Willemse at fullback, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf and Cobus Reinach at scrumhalf. Ruhan Nel captains the team at outside centre.
Pead’s opportunity could arrive when the game enters its most frantic phase. That is where his junior rugby reputation suggests he can become a live wire, turning slow ball into fast trouble.
The Stormers will also unveil their new black kit, a throwback to the famous 1999 Men in Black campaign.
Dobson believes the occasion will resonate with supporters.
“This weekend we also play our first match in the new Men in Black kit, which is a great nod to our past and something which resonates deeply with our fans.”
For Pead, though, nostalgia will be personal.
He will have travelled less than two kilometres from the streets that shaped him to the stadium where he gets to wear the jersey he once dreamed about.
The road has been short geographically.
The journey has been anything but.
Now the Bo-Kaap’s electric No 9 gets his chance to realise his Stormers dream.
For a player who has already conquered the world at junior level, the next test is brutally simple: can the Bo-Kaap spark translate into senior rugby?
Here we go! Make sure you are there at DHL Stadium on Saturday to see this team in action.
📢 Full announcement https://t.co/Oedn6B5fUu
🎟️ https://t.co/iHPYfSLWqe#STOvSHA #inittogether @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/v7RU6oPxj2— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 7, 2026
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
