When Kolisi found out he was surplus to Springbok requirements for the Perth Test, he didn't head home — he flew Perth to Dubai to Dublin and bussed to Galway to link up with the Stormers on tour a week before his scheduled return. Forwards coach Hlungwani and number eight Dayimani both speak to how that gesture has landed in the dressing room: not the returning superstar seeking status, but someone visibly willing to earn his place among a squad that includes players who weren't around for his first stint at the club. Kolisi starts at openside against Edinburgh on Friday, with the early signs suggesting the reintegration is going smoothly on and off the field.
Kolisi's long-haul detour tells the Stormers everything they need to know
Kolisi's decision to take the long way from Perth to Galway rather than sit out the week at home has made a strong impression on the Stormers squad — Dayimani and Hlungwani explain why the gesture matters as much as anything he'll do on the field.
Kolisi treats Barbarians clash as a full Test match ahead of Gqeberha opener
Siya Kolisi insists the Springboks are treating Saturday's Barbarians clash in Gqeberha as a full Test match, with internal competition, positional battles and the season opener's importance all cited as the camp's driving forces.
Erasmus warns Boks: England bring youth, experience and tactical unpredictability to Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus has praised England's touring squad as young, experienced and tactically unpredictable ahead of the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July, while Siya Kolisi returns as captain for a fixture that marked his first Test captaincy in 2018.
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.
De Villiers warns Stormers risk repeating the Sharks' star-studded trap
De Villiers warns the Stormers risk the Sharks' trap — big Bok signings, brand value, but URC inconsistency when those players are away. He and Burger also take a pointed dig at the Lavanini link given his sin-bin habits.
Dobson draws a line: Kolisi and Kolbe are the Stormers' limit on marquee Bok signings
Dobson explains why Kolisi's signing sits outside the Project 2029 timeline but is justified on merit, while Kolbe is a genuine long-term fit — and why both represent the hard limit on marquee Bok acquisitions at the Stormers.