Ahead of the new season, we take a close look at each of our 16 teams with a report card on 2023/24 and what to expect from them in URC 4.
The DHL Stormers will be looking to push on and rediscover the kind of form that saw them become champions in the inaugural season of the United Rugby Championship after failing to get beyond the quarter-final stages last season.
The Cape Town club were also finalists in 2022/23, but a 5th place finish in the standings last season meant they had to travel to Scotstoun in the Play-Offs, where they were beaten by eventual Grand Final winners, Glasgow Warriors.
But the Stormers have plenty of positives to carry into the new season, with no team completing more successful offloads (220) than the South African side last season.
They scored 58 tries, racking up an impressive 468 points in total with an incredible 384 clean breaks in the regular season.
The DHL Stormes will also welcome back former captain Steven Kitshoff, following his one-season stint with Ulster Rugby in what will be a huge boost.
Improving their form away from home will once again be a target but they will be encouraged by their first URC win on Irish soil after they defeated Connacht 12-16 in Round 17.
Key Players
Of those 220 successful offloads last season, Warrick Gelant threw an astonishing 34 of them, more than anyone else in the competition, he also beat 33 defenders, made 818 meters, and chipped in with some huge tries including that absolute "worldie" against Leinster.
Springbok Mannie Libbok will continue to be a hugely important player at the club, and the return of Steven Kitshoff is huge as we already mentioned.
Despite Evan Roos' surgery, he should be available for the business end of the URC and hopefully continue to shine. He scored an impressive eight tries last season while making 671 metres for his team, and beating 49 defenders (second to only Duhan van der Merwe last season).
Ruben van Heerden topped the tackle charts last season with 224 tackles made.
Ins & Outs
Ins:
Steven Kitshoff – Ulster
JD Schickerling – Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Dave Ewers – Ulster Rugby
Outs:
Jarrod Taylor – Scarlets
Juan de Jongh – retired
Cornel Smit – Vodacom Bulls
Kwenzo Blose – Exeter Chiefs
Tristan Leyds – South Africa 7s
Nama Xaba – Vodacom Bulls
Hacjivah Dayimani – Racing 92
Kade Wolhuter – Lions
Simon Miller – released
Godlen Masimla – released
Lee-Marvin Mazibuko – released
Chris Hollis – Dragons
Chad Solomon – released
Junior Pokomela – released
Leon Lyons – released
Mnombo Zwelendaba – released
