The Stormers are on the brink of a monumental season as they chase not only the top spot in the Vodacom URC for the first time since their debut in 2021 but also aim to shatter the league record for regular-season home attendances. With just four games remaining, the Cape Town squad sits just four points behind the Glasgow Warriors, and a face-off on their home turf next week could redefine the league's pecking order.
Despite a heart-wrenching 28-27 quarter-final exit in the Investec Champions Cup against Toulon, the Stormers have regrouped with renewed vigor for the URC stretch. "We had a great review of the game and we could see faults," said John Dobson, the director of rugby. "We would have loved to have won at one of the cathedrals of rugby, but we were maybe not quite good enough in some areas."
"We had something to get our teeth into rather than just being the victims."
Their immediate challenge is a showdown against Connacht this Saturday, a team that has been on a winning streak and poses a significant threat. "It’s a desperate Connacht team and desperate teams are sometimes very dangerous," Dobson warned, emphasizing the critical nature of the match in the season's context.
As the Stormers eye the top league position, Dobson outlined the strategic advantage of finishing first. "If you did get there and dream, then Glasgow and Leinster would probably have to play each other in a semi-final which is a massive game and takes out a serious member of the opposition. Then the winners of that game would have to come over to Cape Town for the final," he explained.
Beyond the standings, the Stormers are close to setting a new attendance record. Currently, Leinster holds the record with 241,393 fans from last season. The Stormers have already attracted 197,737 spectators in seven home games. With massive turnouts expected against Connacht and Glasgow, they are poised to break this record and surpass their own previous high of 226,467.
"We have got a chance of breaking the record URC attendance, so I would just appeal to people to come and support us, enjoy a great Stormers performance and make Cape Town smile,"
Dobson urged.
The upcoming game against Connacht also serves as a moment to honor Chippie Solomon, the team's long-serving manager who recently passed away. This match promises not just a fight for league supremacy but also a tribute to a beloved figure in the Stormers' family.
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The Stormers are on the brink of a monumental season as they chase not only the top spot in the Vodacom URC for the first time since their debut in 2021 but also aim to shatter the league record for regular-season home attendances. With just four games remaining, the Cape Town squad sits just four points behind the Glasgow Warriors, and a face-off on their home turf next week could redefine the league's pecking order.
Despite a heart-wrenching 28-27 quarter-final exit in the Investec Champions Cup against Toulon, the Stormers have regrouped with renewed vigor for the URC stretch. "We had a great review of the game and we could see faults," said John Dobson, the director of rugby. "We would have loved to have won at one of the cathedrals of rugby, but we were maybe not quite good enough in some areas."
"We had something to get our teeth into rather than just being the victims."
Their immediate challenge is a showdown against Connacht this Saturday, a team that has been on a winning streak and poses a significant threat. "It’s a desperate Connacht team and desperate teams are sometimes very dangerous," Dobson warned, emphasizing the critical nature of the match in the season's context.
As the Stormers eye the top league position, Dobson outlined the strategic advantage of finishing first. "If you did get there and dream, then Glasgow and Leinster would probably have to play each other in a semi-final which is a massive game and takes out a serious member of the opposition. Then the winners of that game would have to come over to Cape Town for the final," he explained.
Beyond the standings, the Stormers are close to setting a new attendance record. Currently, Leinster holds the record with 241,393 fans from last season. The Stormers have already attracted 197,737 spectators in seven home games. With massive turnouts expected against Connacht and Glasgow, they are poised to break this record and surpass their own previous high of 226,467.
"We have got a chance of breaking the record URC attendance, so I would just appeal to people to come and support us, enjoy a great Stormers performance and make Cape Town smile,"
Dobson urged.The upcoming game against Connacht also serves as a moment to honor Chippie Solomon, the team's long-serving manager who recently passed away. This match promises not just a fight for league supremacy but also a tribute to a beloved figure in the Stormers' family.