The Cape Town rugby faithful are preparing for a massive homecoming as two of South Africa's most decorated sons, Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, confirm their return to the Stormers. Joining them in this major squad shake-up is prop Wilco Louw, as the franchise looks to build a team that can compete with the best on the planet. This move sends a shockwave through the competition. It signals that John Dobson isn't just looking to participate next season—he's looking to clean house.
John Dobson, the Stormers Director of Rugby, describes the return of Cheslin Kolbe as a major coup for the franchise. The diminutive winger has been a fan favourite since his early days at Newlands, and his ability to conjure magic out of nothing remains his signature trait. Cheslin Kolbe has remained a loyal Stormers fan even while playing abroad. His return feels less like a transfer and more like a family reunion.
Cheslin is a son of this community and has remained a staunch Stormers fan his whole life. He gives such hope and inspiration to our fans, so to have him back in our club colours is huge.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, this recruitment drive is part of a longer-term strategy labelled 'Project 2029.' The goal is to create a squad that bridges the gap between raw, hungry young talent and battle-hardened veterans. By the time 2029 rolls around, Cheslin Kolbe will be 35. The management expects him to serve as a high-level mentor for the next generation of Stormers players. His discipline and conditioning are already legendary, and he's expected to set the standard for how a professional athlete should conduct themselves.
The proposed squad looks like an absolute beast on paper, blending international experience with local grit. At the front, the combination of Wilco Louw and Ntuthuko Mchunu gives the scrum a sturdy anchor. The loose trio is looking particularly dangerous. The return of the iconic Siya Kolisi adds leadership to the explosive work rate of Evan Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon. The bench is also being designed for impact, with players like Paul de Villiers providing tactical rotation.
Management is also eyeing international talent to bolster the engine room, with Argentine enforcer Tomás Lavanini currently linked to the club. If he joins, he'll bring the type of aggressive enforcement the Stormers need to shore up the tight five. The backline, featuring the creative flair of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf and the speed of Damian Willemse at fullback, seems set to cause headaches for any defensive line in the league.
The depth chart for next season shows how heavily stacked the Stormers are becoming as they integrate these high-profile arrivals. The starting lineup looks to be: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. This roster, if it holds, would be one of the most international-heavy squads seen in local competition in years. It’s a bold gamble, but John Dobson clearly feels the time for incremental growth has passed in favour of immediate, high-impact results.