SA Rugby Mag's Borchardt previews the Stormers' Champions Cup campaign, with the central argument being that the returns of Kolisi, Kolbe, and Wilco Louw give the Cape franchise genuine firepower to break their quarter-final ceiling. The piece examines whether those reinforcements are enough to finally push the Stormers into the latter stages of European competition.
Stormers targeting deep Champions Cup run on back of big-name returns
With Kolisi, Kolbe, and Louw back in the fold, Borchardt's preview assesses whether the Stormers have finally assembled the squad depth to go beyond the Champions Cup last eight.
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.
Stormers rule out De Allende move, turn attention to Jurenzo Julius
The Stormers have ruled out signing Damian de Allende on budget grounds and are targeting Sharks centre Jurenzo Julius instead, while Sanele Nohamba has joined Lyon on a two-year deal.
The Stormers, not the Bulls, are the real URC story of what might have been
Gavin Rich argues the Stormers, not the Bulls, carry the real regret of the URC season — a Cardiff loss that cost them home-ground advantage they would likely have converted. He also delivers a frank verdict on the Sharks' poor campaign and rates the Lions as the season's biggest movers.
De Allende linked with Stormers return as Etzebeth speculation addressed
Damian de Allende is being linked with a 2027 return to the Stormers, potentially joining Kolbe, Kolisi and Louw in the franchise's Project 2029 rebuild, while the Sharks have shut down speculation over Eben Etzebeth's availability.
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.