15 October 2026
Damian Willemse said that the DHL Stormers are hunting ultimate European glory ahead of their Investec Champions Cup opener this weekend. The multi-skilled Springbok fullback has his sights firmly set on lifting the silverware after consecutive seasons of knockout heartbreak.
The Cape Town franchise starts its continental campaign against the Bristol Bears at the DHL Stadium on Saturday at 16:15 SAST. Director of Rugby John Dobson has selected a formidable lineup packed with Test match pedigree to counter the English challenge. Following a commanding 39-22 United Rugby Championship derby win over the Sharks last weekend, the squad enters the clash with considerable tactical momentum.
Willemse emphasised that the group is no longer content with merely reaching the playoffs. The utility back insists the primary objective for the coastal giants is to etch a championship star onto their jersey.
“I’m very excited for the start of the Champions Cup,” Willemse said post-training on Wednesday. “For us as a club, it would mean the world to add a star to our badge. We’ve been to the quarter-finals, and we’ve played in the round of 16, so we know what the pressure feels like when you go to Europe and play against the big clubs.”
The road to the playoffs remains narrow, with the Stormers facing a gruelling pool stage. Alongside the Bristol fixture, the Capetonians must navigate daunting away assignments against Gloucester and Bordeaux. Securing home victories is paramount to anchoring their qualification hopes early in the tournament.
“In the Champions Cup, there are four pool games, and we basically have to win at least two,” Willemse noted. “We’re going to Gloucester and Bordeaux, and these are all tough games. We want to take it a step further and go the full distance this year.”
The Stormers’ backline enters the fixture firing on all cylinders after slicing open the Sharks last weekend. Willemse acted as the primary catalyst in that clinical six-try display, providing a signature cutout pass for Seabelo Senatla’s opening score. The 28-year-old playmaker believes the combinations are rapidly maturing ahead of the European onslaught.
“We get the reps, we try to do it every day, and then when one like that comes off, it looks beautiful,” Willemse said. “We’re growing as a backline. There’s a lot we have to work on, but it’s something we can look forward to in the future.”