Cheslin Kolbe is on the verge of returning to the Stormers from Suntory Sungoliath, with Rapport reporting the move will be confirmed from July 1.
Securing the deal required a multi-party arrangement involving the Stormers, Roc Nations Sports, and a third party believed to be international sports betting company Sportybet, alongside SA Rugby's PONI funding structure. Kolbe had extended his Suntory contract earlier this year through the 2026/27 season, making third-party financial backing essential to extract him from that agreement.
"It's definitely very, very close," a source close to the deal told Rapport.
Kolbe's return would make him the third high-profile Springbok to come back to the Stormers ahead of next season, following Siya Kolisi from the Sharks and tighthead Wilco Louw from the Bulls. John Dobson has publicly identified Kolbe as central to the franchise's Project 2029 vision, under which Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Paul de Villiers, Wandisile Simelane, André-Hugo Venter and Jurie Matthee have all recently signed new deals.
On the wing, his return addresses a genuine need. The Stormers missed out on Dylan Maart, who chose the Bulls on a two-year deal after his loan stint in Cape Town, leaving Leolin Zas and Suleiman Hartzenberg as the primary options out wide.
Kolbe, meanwhile, remains in sharp form in Japan — he scored 20 points in Suntory's 40-35 Japan Rugby League One quarter-final win over BlackRams Tokyo on Saturday.