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OUR HISTORY

1998

The Formation of the Franchise: Before the franchising of SA teams in 1998, DHL Western Province qualified for and played in the Super Rugby competition. The Western Stormers, as the DHL Stormers were known back in 1998, were made up of unions DHL WP, South Western Districts and Boland.

1999

First Semi-Final Appearance in Super 12: The DHL Stormers reached their first Super 12 semi-final, marking their emergence as a competitive team in the tournament. They finished second in the league, and beat the Crusaders 21-17 in a thrilling match at Newlands before losing at home in the semis to the Highlanders.

2004

Reaching the Super 12 Semi-Finals Again: The DHL Stormers made it to the semi-finals of the Super 12 once more, finishing second on the log. They were defeated by the Crusaders, but the season cemented their status as a formidable team in the competition.

2006

Winning the South African Conference: The DHL Stormers topped the South African Conference in the Super 14, demonstrating their dominance in domestic rugby. This achievement was highlighted by their consistent performances throughout the season.

2010

In 2010 the DHL Stormers beat all five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises, a first for any South African team. They won three at Newlands, including a 42-14 win v the Crusaders and two in New Zealand.

2010

First Super Rugby Final: The DHL Stormers reached their first Super Rugby final after defeating the Waratahs in the semi-final. They lost to the Bulls in a final played at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

2012

Winning the South African Conference Again: The DHL Stormers clinched the South African Conference title for the second time, finishing the regular season at the top of the log. They reached the semi-finals but were narrowly defeated by the Sharks.

2013

Andries Bekker is the first DHL Stormers to play 100 matches for the club. He reached his century in 2013.

2014

Jean de Villiers became the second club Centurion. Peter Grant, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi, Juan de Jongh Scarra Ntabeni, Deon Fourie and Brok Harris are also DHL Stormers centurions.

2015

Hosting a Home Playoff: The DHL Stormers topped the South African Conference once more and hosted a home playoff match against the Brumbies.

2019

The last full campaign for the DHL Stormers in Super Rugby before the South African teams’ exit from the competition, following its suspension after seven rounds due to global travel restrictions in 2020.

2021

Moving to Cape Town DHL Stadium: The DHL Stormers moved their home games to the iconic DHL Stadium, leaving Newlands Stadium.This move marked a new era for the franchise, offering a modern venue for their matches and enhancing the fan experience.

2021/22

The DHL Stormers won the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) title, their first major trophy in over two decades. This triumph was a historic moment for the franchise and a testament to the team’s growth and resilience over the years. They beat the Bulls in the final.

2022/23

The DHL Stormers hosted Munster in the 2022/23 Vodacom URC final at the DHL Stadium in front of a tournament record crowd of 56 360. It was the sixth successive URC play-off matches host in two successive seasons.