CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 10: Deon Fourie during the DHL Stormers captains run at DHL Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)
The Stormers – still flying high from their 35-0 lashing of defending champions Leinster – could have extra options available for Friday’s Vodacom URC clash against the Ospreys at Cape Town Stadium.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 10: Deon Fourie during the DHL Stormers captains run at DHL Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)
John Dobson’s side has been decimated by pre-season injuries, but two heavies and a Springbok are set to be available for selection this week.
Front row reinforcements in Scotland international Oli Kebble and Sazi Sandi as well as World Cup winner Deon Fourie are set to alleviate some of Dobson’s headaches.
Forwards coach Rito Hlungwani confirmed the news to the media on Monday.
“Marcel [Theunissen] has a laceration [to the face] but he should be fine as far as I know,” Hlungwani said.
Everyone is fit. Some guys are returning to full fitness. Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi and Deon Fourie are all returning to training.”
Stormers’ new recruit Ntuthuko Mchunu is also set to be fit ahead of their European tour which starts against the Scarlets on 10 October.
The Stormers and Vodacom Bulls made strong starts, but it was early stumbles for the Sharks and Lions in the 2025-26 Vodacom URC.
In Cape Town, the STORMERS sent out a loud, reverberating warning shot to the rest of the field when they thumped defending champions Leinster.
The Cape franchise also had two tries disallowed, which would’ve made the 35-0 blowout even more embarrassing for the Irish giants.
Even stripped of their Springboks and an injury list longer than most, John Dobson’s charges bullied their visitors at scrum time, bossed the air and delivered the kind of hard-edge performance that screams title intent
Jurie Matthee looked assured in the No 10 jersey and No 8 Evan Roos made a storming return as Leinster went pointless for the first time since 2007.
