DHL Stormers powerhouse Evan Roos has sent a clear message to the rest of the United Rugby Championship (URC): every single time the Capetonians walk onto the pitch this season, they are playing for nothing less than silverware.
Speaking at the official Stormers jersey launch, the nine-cap Springbok reflected on a gruelling pre-season, a historic clash against the All Blacks, and his personal goals for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
The Stormers recently made headlines by hosting a high-profile pre-season clash against New Zealand. While traditional pre-season matches are often treated as low-stakes fitness runs, Roos revealed the squad approached the fixture with ultimate intensity.
"It’s a funny one; it was the middle of pre-season, and there was nothing to play for except the win. It wasn’t a league game, quarter-final, semi-final or final," Roos said.
Despite the match not carrying tournament points, the Stormers pushed the world-class international side to their absolute limits, leaving a lasting impression on the eighthman at halftime.
"At half-time, I saw the All Blacks were surprised, a bit wide-eyed. I think if it wasn’t for our two scrumhalves [Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage] picking up injuries, we might have pulled it through. I think the result would have been different."
For Roos, the performance was a testament to the culture brewing in Western Province. "That just shows you what this club means to us as a team, how special it is and what we’re capable of. I’m happy I have that, and I’ll take it into the next season. This pre-season has been good. We know exactly what we’re really good at. We wanted to build on what we worked on last year."
As the Stormers prepare for a final pre-season warm-up against the Vodacom Bulls in Paarl this coming Friday, followed by their official Vodacom URC opener against Connacht on 25 September, Roos has made a solemn vow to the Cape Town faithful.
"The one promise I can make is that every time this team puts on a Stormers jersey, we’re not there to lose. We’re there to compete and get as far as we can," Roos stated flatly. "We play every season to win the league, so that’s nothing new."
On a personal note, the dynamic loose forward is keeping his mindset refreshingly simple as he looks to force his way back into regular Springbok contention.
"Personally, my goal is just to keep on enjoying it. I think that worked out well last season, so I’ll stick with that."