With Kolbe confirmed on a two-year deal and Kolisi and Louw already inked, the Stormers are assembling a squad with genuine title ambitions for 2026/27. Planet Rugby projects a potential 23 that places Kolbe straight into the starting XV on the right wing, with the backline built around a Willemse-at-12 axis that allows Feinberg-Mngomezulu to play with freedom and Kolbe to find space. Gelant likely retains the 15 shirt, with Simelane's versatility deployed off the bench. Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu are pencilled in as the first-choice half-back pairing, though Imad Khan is pushing hard after a strong season. Up front, Kolisi slots to blindside, Louw at tighthead, and Evan Roos anchors the eight — with a potential Lavanini signing at lock the one move that could significantly upgrade the forward pack further.
How Kolbe, Kolisi and Louw reshape the Stormers' 2026/27 lineup
Planet Rugby projects the Stormers' 2026/27 starting lineup following the Kolbe, Kolisi, and Louw signings — a backline built for attacking flair around Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Willemse, with a power-focused pack that could get even stronger if Lavanini arrives.
Dobson: Kolbe returning to win trophies, not to wind down
John Dobson says Cheslin Kolbe has made a major financial sacrifice to return to the Stormers, motivated by winning trophies rather than winding down his career, while warning the franchise is close to its limit on high-profile signings.
Willemse and De Villiers lead Stormers to 44-21 URC quarter-final win over Cardiff, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu limps off
Damian Willemse and Paul de Villiers were the standout performers as the Stormers beat Cardiff 44-21 in their URC quarter-final in Cape Town, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's second-half injury the main concern from an otherwise commanding display.
Dobson's 2012 gamble on Kolbe, and why the Stormers' homecoming recruits aren't a Sharks repeat
Rich reveals Kolbe nearly quit rugby in 2012 before Dobson's intervention, and uses the Stormers' latest homecoming signings to argue why their model is structurally different from — and smarter than — the Sharks' costly Galactico era.
Kolbe takes pay cut to return to Stormers, Dobson eyes 2029 with two icons back
Cheslin Kolbe returns to the Stormers on a below-market deal, taking a substantial pay cut from his Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath salary to join John Dobson's Project 2029 rebuild alongside fellow returning icon Siya Kolisi.
Kolbe set for Stormers return from July 1 as Project 2029 takes shape
Cheslin Kolbe is reportedly set to return to the Stormers from July 1, with a multi-party funding arrangement — involving Roc Nations Sports, a third-party sponsor believed to be Sportybet, and SA Rugby's PONI structure — enabling his release from Suntory Sungoliath ahead of schedule.