Stormers confirm former UCT and Bulls coaches for Currie Cup campaign

SPOTLIGHT: The Stormers XXIII (formerly Western Province), who will compete in the Currie Cup for the very first time this season under the new name, confirmed their coaching panel for the upcoming campaign.

High Performance Manager Hanyani Shimange will continue to oversee the entire programme, as he did for the team’s Under-23 campaign.

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Former Stormers Performance Coach and UCT mentor Tom Dawson-Squibb will take the role of Head Coach, and will be assisted by Helmut Lehmann, Dewaldt Duvenage, Sentle Lehoko and former Bulls coach Pine Pienaar.

Lehmann and Duvenage both continue their roles from the U23 season, while the experienced Pienaar joins the set-up in a short-term role for this campaign specifically, following the departure of Craig Childs to the Leicester Tigers.

Lehoko has been part of the Stormers Rugby analysis team for several years and has taken local club SK Walmers to impressive heights in Super League A.

As with all senior Stormers Rugby teams, Kicking Coach Gareth Wright, Scrum Coach Brok Harris and Skills Coach Labeeb Levy will be available to the Stormers XXIII, but will also be involved with the Stormers’ pre-season preparations at the same time.

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Following a brand consolidation which has seen all Stormers Rugby professional teams compete under one banner, history will be made in the oldest domestic rugby competition in the world as the Stormers XXIII feature for the first time.

Their first-ever match in the competition will be against Griquas at DHL Stadium on Friday, July 17.

Stormers Rugby Chief Commercial Officer Leontine De Sutter said that the opening round match in Cape Town will signify a big moment for the brand.

“We took the decision to align all of our teams under one brand in the same way all professional clubs around the world have, and the moment has come for the Stormers XXIII to start a new chapter while building on the unrivalled success we have had in the past.

“We now have the ability to talk to a bigger audience on Stormers social platforms and give this team the right support to build the players’ profiles and create awareness around the games.

“It is an exciting time as we position the Stormers XXIII as a showcase of the talent coming through our system on their way to the top of the game,” she said.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that this competition will be an opportunity to further develop depth and encourage competition for places in the Stormers squad for the 26/27 United Rugby Championship season.

“We have so much exciting talent within our system, and the Stormers XXIII gives them a platform to compete for a place in our squad for the URC and Champions Cup next season.

We will have a group of senior players unavailable for this tournament as they follow a pre-season programme aimed at ensuring that we are ready to hit the ground running when the new international season kicks off at the end of September.

“Our aim first and foremost is to compete and improve the level of our performance in this competition from recent seasons, but we also want to use it as an opportunity to give meaningful gametime to those who we believe will play a big role for the Stormers going forward.

“We will see the next wave of talent coming through the system, looking to put their names forward.

“The likes of Jonathan Roche, Keke Morabe, JC Mars, Divan Fuller and Connor Evans will be keen to show what they can do, along with some seasoned experience in the form of Oli Kebble, Ruan Ackermann and Stefan Ungerer,” he said