The Stormers have moved to secure the cream of local schoolboy rugby talent in the Western Cape ahead of the next season.
A strong group of juniors have committed their futures to the Cape side for 2026 and beyond as they transition from school rugby into the more professional side of game.
The recruitment is led by the Paarl Gimnasium duo of centre Markus Muller and loose forward Quintin Potgieter, who will be joined by Rondebosch Boys’ loose forward Alutha Wesi, centre Randall-John Davids, and Paul Roos stalwarts wing Jordan Steenkamp, hooker Altus Rabe, and loose forward Gert Kemp. Additional signings include Wynberg Boys’ flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed, Boland Landbou scrumhalf Jayden Brits, and Grey College lock AJ Meyer.
There is especially excitement about the future of Muller, captain of Paarl Gim’s first XV, and how he has excelled in the outside-centre jersey for the school. Another promising young player is flyhalf Ahmed. He has been outstanding in the Wynberg jersey with his overall skills.
It’s expected that Ahmed will form part of the SA Schools team again this year after starring for the team during last season’s Under-18 International Series, while Muller is expected to make the step up from the SA Schools A side.
John Dobson, the director of rugby at the Stormers, said they are excited about the strong influx of local talent, which aligns with their commitment to nurturing players from the community.
“This speaks to our aim as an organisation of harnessing the talent we have on our doorstep and strengthening the connection with our fans by contracting players from their communities to take our team forward,” Dobson said.
The decision to prioritise local talent is a critical component of Stormers Rugby’s strategy. It enhances their pathway system, which has already borne fruit, as evidenced by the success of the Western Province U21s, claiming consecutive national title victories in the last couple of seasons.
Many of these players have subsequently stepped into the ranks of the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup, showcasing the effectiveness of the organisation’s development approach.
“Of course, we still keep an eye on the most promising players from around the country and will make strategic acquisitions from outside the region if we feel they will make a big difference,” Dobson added.
“We have seen a few big success stories in recent years, with the likes of Damian Willemse, Salmaan Moerat, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, JD Schickerling, and Suleiman Hartzenberg all coming through our system to become household names.
“We expect the same to happen with many of these players who will join our environment next year and we are not done here, with a few more significant names set to be added to this list in the near future.”
