Haashim Pead is coming home. The Player of the Tournament at the 2025 World Rugby Junior World Championship has signed a four-year deal with the DHL Stormers and already started training with the non-travelling squad in Cape Town this week.
Pead grew up just a stone’s throw from DHL Stadium in Bo-Kaap, built his name at Bishops and capped a breakout year by starring for the Junior Springbok team – led by his new club teammate Riley Norton – as they beat New Zealand in the 2025 final to win the global showpiece for international U20 teams in Italy for the first time since 2012.
The electric scrumhalf now returns to where it all started to form part of the long-term vision of Project 2029. He will be available to make his DHL Stormers debut once the team is back from its two-match tour to Ireland and Scotland, with four consecutive home games at DHL Stadium in October giving fans their first chance to see him in DHL Stormers colours.
The 21-year-old was called up to a Springbok senior alignment camp and featured for South Africa A against Zimbabwe earlier this season. His crisp service, instinctive eye for a gap, searing pace and strength make him one of the most exciting young prospects in South African rugby.
Director of Rugby John Dobson said Pead’s profile was the perfect fit for the squad as part of Project 2029, which seeks to position Stormers Rugby as one of the top global rugby clubs on and off the field.
“Haashim is a rising star and as a local lad who fits our game model perfectly, it made sense on every level for us to bring him back to Cape Town.
“He is a gifted athlete who has an incredibly high ceiling, and we look forward to seeing how he develops here with us.
“This is a four-year deal, so there is a big commitment from both ourselves and Haashim to Project 2029 and our goals as a club,” he added.
Pead said he was determined to make the most of playing for his boyhood team.
“Cape Town is my home and I could not be more excited to join the DHL Stormers. I can’t wait to get stuck in.
“I have joined a very strong squad at a club with big ambitions, so there is a lot of hard work ahead of me, and I just want to take every opportunity that comes my way here,” he said.
