The DHL Stormers will carry the torch as the first South African franchise in action when they kick off their 2026/27 Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign against Connacht Rugby at the Dexcom Stadium on Friday at 20:45 SAST.
John Dobson’s men head into the clash fully aware of the massive task awaiting them in Galway. The Irish hosts have turned their home ground into an absolute fortress, heading into the season opener on a formidable five-game home winning streak.
However, the Capetonians can draw massive confidence from their previous footprints in Galway. On their last visit to Dexcom Stadium in May 2024, the Stormers ground out a gritty 16-12 victory.
A primary focus for the Stormers this week has been tactical adaptation. Assistant coach Dawie Snyman highlighted that adapting to Galway's 4G synthetic pitch is a major hurdle, noting that the fast, bouncy artificial surface alters everything from scrum mechanics to kicking timing.
Beyond the pitch surface, the Stormers must overcome a mental hurdle in the Northern Hemisphere. The Cape side has struggled on Irish soil recently, managing just one victory in their last five matches in Ireland.
Dobson has named a balanced matchday 23 that blends youth with experienced core players.
A major celebration surrounds explosive winger Leolin Zas, who is set to make his 100th appearance for the franchise. Up front, highly rated 20-year-old lock Riley Norton gets a massive opportunity in the starting lineup, while Springbok loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon returns to the mix via the bench after recovering from a concussion. Ruhan Nel will captain the side from the midfield.
Connacht, meanwhile, receive a massive boost with the return of flying Wallaby winger Mack Hansen, who starts after a long-term injury layoff. Former Munster prop Francois van Wyk is also set to make his competitive debut for the western province.
While Connacht’s five-game home streak makes them a formidable target, the Stormers have historically had their number, winning four of the last five head-to-heads. Given how tightly contested meetings in Galway usually turn out (evidenced by the Stormers' 16-12 grit-out in 2024), the smart money is on a nail-biter. Backing the Stormers on the +4.5 handicap offers excellent value, expecting John Dobson’s side to keep it well within a single score, if not break their Irish hoodoo entirely with a narrow upset.
Teams
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 John Devine, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Eoin de Buitléar, 1 Francois van Wyk. Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 David O’Connor, 20 Max Flynn, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Shayne Bolton
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Evan Roos, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Yaqeen Ahmed.