The DHL Stormers are locked in for the 26/27 season – in it together with the fans, sponsors and all those who make them one of the best-supported club teams in world rugby.
The season launch event at DHL Stadium on Tuesday evening brought stakeholders together to set the squad on course for a campaign that begins in just over three weeks. Past and present players saw the 26/27 home and away kit revealed, Ruhan Nel confirmed as club captain, and senior leadership set out what fans can expect in the season ahead.
Guests were also given a first look at the club’s ‘Locked In’ 26/27 season film on the revamped big screens – a showcase of the deepening bond between squad and supporters, and for which hundreds of fans answered a public casting call to feature alongside current and former players.
The launch builds on a season of bold change. Following last season’s rebrand, Stormers Rugby is raising its game both on and off the field, deepening the connection between the team and its fanbase under the previously established tagline ‘In it together’ – in ways it intends to be authentic, tangible and lasting.
Last season validated the approach. The DHL Stormers recorded an average attendance of 26,153 per game – a 4% year-on-year increase and the highest regular-season attendance in the Vodacom URC for the third time in the competition’s five-year history. Around the world, 9.6 million hours of DHL Stormers rugby were watched, a 15% year-on-year increase that made them the most-watched team in the Vodacom URC and one of only four clubs in the competition to grow their viewership.
The 26/27 home and away jerseys from adidas are connected by the theme ‘Roots run deep’, both combining the club’s heritage with a modern style that speaks to a new generation.
The home kit – first worn in the recent clash with New Zealand – retains the classic blue-and-white hoops, black shorts and black socks, adding a collar and white shoulder stripes to bring it closer than ever to the traditional colours fans are so familiar with. The away kit revives the legendary ‘Men in Black’ identity first launched in 1999 – one of the most distinctive in the club’s history – reimagined for a new generation.
On the field, the squad is bolstered by the return of global stars Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe and Wilco Louw, adding significant firepower and profile to an already formidable group. Alongside them, the Stormers Rugby Institute continues to channel an exceptional pipeline of emerging talent predominantly from the Western Cape, with top schoolboy players bringing their own fanbases through the gates of DHL Stadium.
Off the field, the club has committed to a series of new fan engagement initiatives designed to deepen the connection beyond the 80 minutes. Players will stay on the pitch after every home game until the last fan has had a selfie or signature, and a varied matchday experience – spanning sell-out derbies and themed feature matches – that offer something for every type of supporter. The season opens on 25 September against Connacht in Galway, with the first home game taking place on 10 October against the HollywoodBets Sharks.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux said the club intends to keep raising its game across every area.
“Last season we made bold and considered decisions – new logo, new visual identity, a brand repositioning and consolidating our identities under one brand – and the results speak for themselves: the highest attendance and television viewership in the Vodacom URC, and a fanbase that stayed with us through every moment. That is not something we take for granted.
“This season we are locked in. We are building on that foundation with a clear plan – on the field, through our commercial programme, and in the way we show up for our fans every day. ‘In it together’ only works if it is lived authentically, with no disconnect between what we say and what we do,” he said.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said his squad is primed to take the next step towards the vision of Project 2029.
“We have a stronger squad with some key signings and our institute channeling the unmatched pipeline of talent in our region into our senior squad all the time.
“We made some good strides last season and there have been more encouraging developments since then with a competitive performance against New Zealand in the middle of our pre-season, and some hard work from both players and coaches.
“The depth at our disposal is better than it has ever been and in Ruhan Nel we have an inspirational club captain who has proven what playing for this team means.
“We know how important this team is to our fans, which is why we are committed to staying in the fight and giving everything we have every minute we are on the field, regardless of the match situation.
“Our team plays for the best fans in the world, and you can be sure that they will be in it together with all of you from first to last whistle this season,” he said.
