Stormers making big moves after equity deal

The Stormers have been the dominant South African force on the rugby scene over the last couple of the years, and seem set to only go from strength to strength.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the Red Disa Consortium had concluded its equity deal to secure a controlling shareholding in WP Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd, and with is has come a major cash injection.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN STORMERS COUNTRY?

Return of familiar stars

JD Schickerling is the latest Stormer to make his return to Cape Town, having signed a three-year deal. The 28-year-old made his Stormers debut back in 2016 and earned 40 caps before making the move to Japan in 2021.

A schoolboy star at Paarl Gim, Schickerling is another product of the Stormers structures and represented SA Schools and the Junior Springboks before moving into the senior team.

A lock who is equally at home in either the four or five jersey, the imposing Schickerling will add valuable second-row depth to the squad when he makes his return in July.

Former captain returns ‘home’

In huge news last year it was confirmed that Steven Kitshoff will be coming home to Cape Town next season, having signed a two-year deal to return to the fold.

The powerful loosehead prop, who has 138 Stormers caps to his name, will return to Cape Town in July after being released from his current contract with Irish side Ulster.

The experienced 32-year-old led the Stormers to the United Rugby Championship title in 2022 and will return to the team he grew up supporting for the second time in his career, having spent three seasons with Bordeaux from 2015 to 2017.

An immensely popular figure in Cape Town and with Stormers supporters around the world, Kitshoff will add valuable leadership to the squad, on top of his considerable talents in the front row.

Retaining top talent

On Friday it was also announced that mercurial backline talent Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has signed a contract extension that will keep him in a Stormers jersey until at least 2027.

The former Junior Springbok captain and age-group star has already made the step-up to the senior squad with ease and will continue to grow in the Stormers system over the next three years.

Having made his Stormers debut in the cauldron of a United Rugby Championship quarterfinal in 2022 at the age of just 20, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has since shown his immense value as a flyhalf who is able to cover multiple positions in the backline.

ALSO READ: Orlando Pirates fighting to keep star after Raja Casablanca’s interest