2025–26 Stormers season
| Full name | DHL Stormers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union |  SARU | ||
| Founded | 1883 (Western Province Rugby Union) 1997 (Stormers franchise) | ||
| Location | Cape Town, South Africa | ||
| Region | Cape Town Cape Winelands or Boland West Coast | ||
| Ground | Cape Town Stadium (Capacity: 55,000) | ||
| Coach | John Dobson | ||
| Captain(s) | Salmaan Moerat Neethling Fouche | ||
| League(s) | United Rugby Championship European Rugby Champions Cup | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
 Current season | |||
The 2025–26 season will be the Stormers's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship and thirtieth season of professional rugby. Along with competing in the URC and its South African Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2025-26 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Squad
Players in
|
Players out
|
2025–26 United Rugby Championship
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Glasgow Warriors
|
11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 310 | 155 | +155 | 44 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 44 | Qualifies for home URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup |
| 2 |  Leinster
|
11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 301 | 234 | +67 | 44 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 40 | |
| 3 | Stormers
|
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 274 | 161 | +113 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 36 | |
| 4 | Ulster
|
10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 302 | 208 | +94 | 42 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 36 | |
| 5 |  Cardiff
|
11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 232 | 203 | +29 | 34 | 28 | 5 | 3 | 36 | Qualifies for URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup |
| 6 | Munster
|
11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 227 | 218 | +9 | 33 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 35 | |
| 7 | Bulls
|
10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 263 | 258 | +5 | 38 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
| 8 | Ospreys
|
11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 239 | 263 | −24 | 36 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 25 | |
| 9 | Sharks
|
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 222 | 258 | −36 | 33 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 24 | Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup |
| 10 | Lions
|
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 267 | 310 | −43 | 36 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 24 | |
| 11 |  Benetton
|
11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 201 | 266 | −65 | 22 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 21 | |
| 12 | Connacht
|
10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 243 | 269 | −26 | 32 | 37 | 5 | 4 | 21 | |
| 13 | Edinburgh
|
10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 195 | 194 | +1 | 30 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 18 | |
| 14 | Dragons
|
11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 212 | 271 | −59 | 27 | 40 | 2 | 4 | 18 | |
| 15 | Scarlets
|
10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 173 | 239 | −66 | 22 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 15 | |
| 16 | Zebre Parma
|
11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 190 | 344 | −154 | 25 | 48 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Updated to match(es) played on 30 January 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[15]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[15]
Fixtures and results
The URC released the full fixture list for the new season on 21 May 2025.
| 26 September 2025 | (1 BP) Stormers
|
35 – 0 | Leinster
|
Cape Town Stadium | |
| 18:00 | Try: Ungerer (45') Roos (63' 68') Matthee (71') Con: Matthee (45' 64' 69') Pen: Matthee (7' 33' 42') |
Report[16] | Cards: Deegan  63' to 73'T. O'Brien 67' to 77'
|
Attendance: 13 529 Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi |
| 3 October 2025 | Stormers
|
26 – 10 | Ospreys
|
Cape Town Stadium | |
| 18:00 | Try: Roos (10') Simelane (58') de Villiers (70') Con: Matthee (59') Pen: Matthee (41', 44', 57') |
Report | Try: Hardy (3', 29') |
Attendance: 13 668 Referee: Peter Martin |
| 10 October 2025 | Scarlets
|
0 – 34 | Stormers (1 BP)
|
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli | |
| 19:45 | Cards: Plumtree 33' Page 72'
|
Report | Try: Roos (11') de Villiers (40') v. Heerden (57') Feinberg-Mngomezulu (65') Khan (74') Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (12', 41') Willemse (58') Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (17') Cards: Dixon 28'Feinberg-Mngomezulu 53'
|
| 18 October 2025 | Zebre Parma
|
13 – 31 | Stormers (1 BP)
|
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma | |
| 19:45 | Try: Belloni, (20') Con: da Re (21') Pen: da Re (63', 67') Cards: Nocero 59'
|
Report | Try: de Villiers (6') Feinberg-Mngomezulu, (37', 46') Gelant, (58') Nel (80') Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, (38', 58', 80'+1) |
Referee: Andrew Brace |
| 25 October 2025 | Benetton
|
16 – 31 | Stormers
|
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso | |
| 17:30 | Try: Lynagh (30' c) Con: Umaga (31') Pen: Umaga (15', 18', 35') |
Report | Try: Sandi (6' m) Matthee (48' c) Porthen (80' c) Con: Matthee (49', 81') Pen: Matthee (20', 45', 53', 72') |
Attendance: 4,903 Referee: Hollie Davidson
|
| 29 November 2025 | (1 BP) Munster
|
21 – 27 | Stormers
|
Thomond Park, Limerick | |
| 17:30 | Try: Beirne (8' c) Hodnett (20' c) Crowley (27' c) Con: Crowley (3/3) (8', 20', 28') Cards: Coombes 58' to 68'
|
Report | Try: A. Smith (58') Maart (68') Nel (72') Con: Matthee (3/3) (59' c, 69' c, 72' c) Pen: Matthee (6', 12') Cards: Evans 3' to 13'Theunissen 20' to 30'
|
Attendance: 14,421 Referee: Andrea Piardi
|
| 20 December 2025 | (1 BP) Stormers
|
34 – 27 | Lions (1 BP)
|
Cape Town Stadium | |
| 13:30 | Try: Maart (27'c) Simelane (42'c) de Villiers (53'c) Roos (64'c) Con: Matthee (4/4) (28', 42', 54', 65') Pen: Matthee (2/2) (38', 60') |
Report | Try: Venter (1'c, 40'c) Mpeku (69'c) Con: CW Smith (3/3) (1',40',70') Pen: CW Smith (2/2) (19', 57') |
Attendance: 28,205 [17] Referee: Hanru Van Rooyen |
| TBC | Bulls
|
v | Stormers
|
Loftus Versfeld Stadium | |
| TBC |
| 3 January 2026 | Stormers
|
13 – 8 | Bulls (1 BP)
|
Cape Town Stadium | |
| 16:00 | Try: Roos 39' m Mchunu 79' m Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 35' |
Report | Try: Pollard 31' Pen: Pollard 44 ' Cards: le Roux 35'
|
Attendance: 53,682 Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa) |
| 24 January 2026 | Stormers
|
19 – 30 | Sharks (1 BP)
|
Cape Town Stadium | |
| 17:30 | Try: Weillemse (2) 7' m, 27' c penalty try 78' Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (1/2) 37' Cards: Moerat 47'Sandi 71''
|
Report | Try: Jenkins 5' c Williams 12' c Buthelezi 47' m Esterhuizen 73' m Con: Hendrikse (2/4) 6', 13; Pen: Hendrikse (2) 17', 68' Cards: Tshituka 78'
|
Attendance: 52,087 Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (RSA) |
| 31 January 2026 | (1 BP) Sharks
|
36 – 24 | Stormers
|
Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
| 15:00 | Try: Williams 12' c Hooker 25' c Esterhuizen 48' c Williams 53' c, 72'm Con: Hendrikse (4/5) 13', 26', 49', 53' Pen: Hendrikse 69' |
Report | Try: Reinach 1' m de Villiers 43' c Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (1/2) 44' Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4) 16', 20', 39', 40+3' Cards: de Villiers 9'van Heerden 49'
|
Attendance: 25,364 Referee: Christopher Allison |
| Sat, Feb 28 | Lions
|
v | Stormers
|
Emirates Airline Park | |
| 12:30 |
| Sat, Mar 21 | Stormers
|
v | Dragons
|
TBC | |
| 17:30 |
| Sat, Mar 28 | Stormers
|
v | Edinburgh
|
DHL Stadium | |
| 17:00 |
| Sat, Apr 18 | Stormers
|
v | Connacht
|
DHL Stadium | |
| 17:15 |
| Sat, Apr 25 | Stormers
|
v | Glasgow Warriors
|
DHL Stadium | |
| 17:30 |
| Fri, May 8 | Ulster
|
v | Stormers
|
Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast | |
| 19:45 |
| Fri, May 15 | Cardiff
|
v | Stormers
|
Cardiff Arms Park | |
| 19:45 |
2025–26 URC South African Shield
| |||||||||||||||||
| South African Shield
| |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | Pos overall | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharks
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 78 | +31 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 9 | |||
| 2 | Lions
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 110 | 141 | -31 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | |||
| 3 | Stormers
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 101 | -11 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |||
| 4 | Bulls
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 105 | 94 | +11 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | |||
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[18]
| |||||||||||||||||
| Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields. (S) : URC Shield champion | |||||||||||||||||
European Rugby Champions Cup
Stormers have been drawn in Pool 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup. alongside fellow URC side Leinster (whom Stormers will not play in line with the competition's rules), Stormers will face Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Bayonne and La Rochelle.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leinster (3)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 80 | +35 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 18 | Home Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 2 |  Harlequins (6)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 184 | 86 | +98 | 26 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 15 | |
| 3 | Stormers (9)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 117 | 125 | −8 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 14 | Away Champions Cup round of 16. |
| 4 | Leicester Tigers (16)
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 118 | 115 | +3 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
| 5 |  La Rochelle (11CC)
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 101 | 114 | −13 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 6 | Away Challenge Cup round of 16. |
| 6 | Bayonne
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 58 | 173 | −115 | 8 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: EPCR[19]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
| 5 December 2025 | Bayonne
|
17–26 | Stormers
|
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne | |
| 21:00 | Try: Mori (16' m) Erbinartegaray (53' m) Paulos (61' c) Con: Spring (62') Cards: Bosch 71' to f.t.'Fepulea'i 73' to f.t.'
|
Try: Khan (2' c) de Villiers (76' c) Con: Swart (3', 77') Pen: Swart(23', 28', 31', 81') Cards: Smith  48'Zas 68' to 78'
|
Attendance: 14,576 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) |
| 13 December 2025 | (1 BP) Stormers
|
42–21 | La Rochelle
|
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha | |
| 14:00 | Try: Maart (2) 3' m, 53' c Zas 8' m Venter 46' m Gelant 57' c Theunissen 71' c Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3/6) 54', 58', 72' Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2/2) 30', 42' Cards: Fouché 48'
|
Report | Try: Lespiaucq 26' c Sutidze 50' c Bollengier 67' c Con: Jurd (3/3) 27', 50', 68' |
Attendance: 17,058 Referee: Luke Pearce (England) |
| 11 January 2026 | (1 BP) Harlequins
|
61–10 | Stormers
|
Twickenham Stoop, London | |
| 13:00 | Try: Kenningham 6' c Murley 10' m Dombrandt 15' c Cunningham-South 25' c David (3) 29' c, 51' c, 58' c Carr 60' c Evans 80' c Con: Smith (8/9) 7', 16', 26', 30', 53', 59', 61', 80' |
Report | Try: Khan 65' m Maart 72' m |
Attendance: 10,315 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) |
| 17 January 2026 | Stormers
|
v | Leicester Tigers
|
DHL Stadium, Cape Town | |
| 16:15 |
See also
References
- ^ "Springbok Cobus Reinach agrees South Africa homecoming". Rugby Pass. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ "Springbok prop Ntuthuko Mchunu agrees move to South African rivals". Rugby Pass. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
- ^ Coombe, Louis Chapman (24 June 2025). "Stormers bolster ranks as Springboks hopeful set to become 'firm favourite' in Cape Town". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Stormers call on front-row reinforcements". SA Rugby Mag. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Stormers bolster prop stocks". SA Rugby Mag. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "CONFIRMED: Stormers snatch Cheetahs hooker". Rugby 365. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "OFFICIAL: Stormers confirm key recruit". The South African. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Springbok departs URC for Top 14 for 'life-changing opportunity'". Rugby Dump. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Stormers prop to end incredible career". SA Rugby Mag. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ "Gloucester sign Ben Loader from Stormers". Rugby Pass. 26 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
- ^ "South African talent joins Exeter Chiefs". Exeter Today. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
- ^ "Jake White officially confirms two more Springboks signings as Bulls look to close the Leinster gap". Planet Rugby. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "TRANSFER TRACKER: Lions confirm signing of Stormer". rugby365.com. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Springbok Manie Libbok's next move has been confirmed". Rugby Pass. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ John O'Sullivan, "Leinster blown away by the Stormers on chastening night for champions in Cape Town", The Irish Times, 26 september 2025
- ^ Adams, Mariette (2025-12-20). "Stormers survive Lions scare to extend URC winning streak". The South African. Retrieved 2025-12-20.
- ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.