The scars of last season’s United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final exit remain raw; however, DHL Stormers captain Ruhan Nel insists the Cape side will channel the Dublin defeat into pure motivation for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
The Stormers looked well on track to cause a massive upset at the Aviva Stadium before late disciplinary lapses, resulting in cards for Ruan Ackermann and Salmaan Moerat, saw a potential final slip through their fingers in an 11-20 loss.
Speaking ahead of the new season, Nel did not shy away from the disappointment, openly admitting that the Leinster defeat has been the driving force behind the squad’s gruelling pre-season preparations.
“The Leinster loss is still fresh in our minds,” Nel admitted during a media briefing, identifying it as the ultimate benchmark for the squad. “There are a couple of games that are still fresh in our minds, but obviously the big one was the Leinster loss.”
Despite the heartbreak, the veteran centre highlighted the immense pride and growth that emerged from that high-stakes encounter, where young flyhalf Jurie Matthee had to fill some incredibly big shoes.
“Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] obviously couldn’t play that game, but Jurie stepped up nicely,” Nel reflected. “The lessons learned in that game were actually just seeing how we could operate in a hostile environment and go up against a full Irish team. Apart from the fact that we lost the semi, there was some real confidence that came from that game to be like ‘flip boys, we’re actually right there’.”
The drive for redemption will be tested immediately as John Dobson's men look to rectify their past slip-ups against Irish opposition. They begin with a challenging opening-round fixture against Connacht, a side that beat the Stormers 33-24 at the DHL Stadium during their previous league phase.
Nel knows that arriving in Galway, famously known as a hostile environment, will require a clinical performance, but the squad is eager to turn the tables.
“That is probably a very tough place to play,” Nel remarked. “It’s at Connacht, and I do think they’ll tip a lot of teams there. If we can go over there and do a job, and really start the season off well, it will be good for us.”
The memory of their previous encounter with Connacht is providing plenty of tactical fuel for the trip.
“That Connacht game last year at DHL Stadium is also fresh in our minds. It was a very tough week for us that week," Nel noted. "We felt we were in that game; they got an intercept try, a try with a chip over the top, so very uncharacteristic tries from us there. We’re definitely looking to settle the score on their field.”
Director of Rugby John Dobson has echoed his captain's sentiments, acknowledging that while the squad depth has vastly improved, silverware will ultimately require finding a way past powerhouse sides like Leinster. Armed with superstar reinforcements, rising young talent, and the painful memories of last year's campaign, Nel and the Stormers are primed to turn past heartbreak into championship glory.