Stormers name strong side for Sharks clash, with Pead set for debut

The Stormers have been strengthened by Springboks returning from national duty for Saturday's United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks, their first home game of the 2026/27 season.

Director of rugby John Dobson has named highly rated scrum-half Haashim Pead on the bench, putting him in line to make his Stormers debut, Jared Wright reported for Planet Rugby.

Pead has signed a four-year deal with the Cape Town side. The Stormers will also run out in their new black kit, a throwback to the celebrated 1999 Men in Black campaign.

Dobson has made three changes to the backline. Damian Willemse replaces Warrick Gelant at full-back, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at fly-half, with Yaqeen Ahmed dropping out. Springbok Cobus Reinach partners Feinberg-Mngomezulu at half-back. Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas keep their places on the wings, and Jonathan Roche and captain Ruhan Nel again form the centre pairing.

The back row is unchanged, with Hacjivah Dayimani at number eight, Siya Kolisi at seven and Paul de Villiers at six. JD Schickerling and Adré Smith start in the second row, while Wilco Louw wins his first Stormers cap since 2020 at tighthead prop. He packs down alongside fellow Springboks André-Hugo Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu in the front row.

Dobson has stuck with a six-two split on the bench. Deon Fourie and Evan Roos return, Vernon Matongo and Neethling Fouché cover the props, and Riley Norton, Connor Evans and Roos provide back-five options. Wandisile Simelane covers the backs along with Pead.

Dobson said it was fantastic to name a side of such talent, from Fourie, with 141 Stormers caps, to Pead, who makes his first appearance for the franchise. He said the players returning from national duty had stepped up during the week and added immensely to the team's preparations, and that it had been a tough selection with many quality players missing out. He also described the debut of the new kit as a fitting nod to the club's past that resonated deeply with supporters, and hoped fans would turn out in numbers at DHL Stadium for a typically intense occasion.

The Stormers team: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.

The match is at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday 10 October, kicking off at 4pm. The referee is Morné Ferreira.