Hot off the press! Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton has just punched his ticket to the big leagues, securing a spot in the Stormers squad for the upcoming Vodacom United Rugby Championship. Fresh from his senior debut with Western Province—where he showed his mettle at flank against the Cheetahs—Norton has clearly done enough to impress the powers that be, including head coach and Director of Rugby, John Dobson.
It's not just Norton who's moving up. Kyle Smith, another hotshot from the Junior Boks who played underdog to Vusi Moyo at the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy, has also snagged a spot. The squad isn't just about the big names, though. It includes club stalwarts like lock Alex Groves and utility back Jared Africa, who both shone despite Western Province’s struggles in the Currie Cup.
The team roster reads like a who’s who of rugby, with Springbok stars such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, and Evan Roos making up the backbone. The squad is also spiced up with new signings like Cobus Reinach, Ntuthuko Mchunu, and Ruan Ackermann, aiming to inject some fresh energy after last season’s inconsistent performance which saw them only making it as far as the quarter finals.
"We've got a mix of experienced internationals and exciting new talent, which we believe is the perfect recipe for success this season," said John Dobson.
The Stormers are set to kick off their campaign with a bang, facing off against the reigning champions Leinster at Cape Town Stadium on September 26. It promises to be a clash of the titans, with both teams hungry to lay down an early marker in the championship race.
With a squad brimming with talent and a challenging opener, the Stormers are clearly gearing up to make waves this season. Will they be able to go the distance? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure—it’s going to be one heck of a ride!
Here’s the full list of Stormers warriors this season: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Warrick Gelant, Courtnall Skosan, Frans Malherbe, Andre-Hugo Venter, Scarra Ntubeni, Deon Fourie, Cobus Reinach, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ruan Ackermann, Riley Norton, Kyle Smith, Alex Groves, and Jared Africa.