Du Toit back for DHL Stormers' Rainbow Cup opener

The 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit will make his long-awaited return from injury for the DHL Stormers in the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA opener against the Cell C Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Du Toit was originally sidelined with a leg injury at the end of February last year, and will run out at 14h00 on Saturday in a starting line-up featuring seven Springboks which will be led by Steven Kitshoff.

Two players will make their DHL Stormers debuts on Saturday - Springbok lock Marvin Orie and former New Nation Pumas No 8 Willie Engelbrecht will both play their first competitive match for the Capetonians.

Du Toit and Engelbrecht are joined by Nama Xaba in the loose trio, while Orie is partnered by JD Schickerling at lock and the experienced trio of Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni and Frans Malherbe start in the front row.

Herschel Jantjies and Kade Wolhuter make an exciting halfback pairing, with Rikus Pretorius and Ruhan Nel in the midfield, while Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla and Edwill van der Merwe provide plenty of strike options out wide.

DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson said that his team are determined to start the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA on a positive note at their new home.

“This will be our first competitive match at our new home Cape Town Stadium and we want to ensure that we get some early momentum in this competition," said Dobson.

“The PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA is something we have all been looking forward to and our focus is on delivering a cohesive team performance that makes the most of the considerable talent we have running out for us on Saturday."

Please note that due to COVID-19 regulations there will be no supporters at the match at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, but all the action will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain). Replacements (from): 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Dan du Plessis, 24 David Meihuizen, 25 Marcel Theunissen, 26 Leolin Zas.

DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks
Date: Saturday, 1 May 2021
Time: 14h00
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs and Aimee Barrett-Theron
Television Match Official: Stuart Berry
TV: SuperSport Rugby and Grandstand

PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA DHL Stormers Cape Town Stadium John Dobson

Boks determined to finish 2024 on a strong note...

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi said on Friday the Boks are determined to deliver a co...

SA Sevens’ future on display with 'A'-sides in Dub...

The next generation of South Africa’s sevens talent will be on display next weekend when the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ and Sp...

Etzebeth to start as Kleyn withdraws from Wales Te...

Eben Etzebeth will start at lock alongside Franco Mostert in the Springboks’ final Castle Lager Outgoing Tour clash agai...

Experienced look to Blitzbok squad for Dubai opene...

Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman has included 10 players who have tasted glory at the Emirates Dubai 7s in his ...

Fassi wants to stay after fighting his way back...

Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi was adamant that he would continue giving everything he can on the field to maintain h...

Provincial women’s rugby back with a bang

South Africa’s top domestic and international women’s rugby players will return to the field with a bang for the first time since 2019 when the Women’s Premier and First Divisions kick off in May and June respectively.

Kolisi returns to Cape Town for Rainbow Cup opener

The PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA gets under way this weekend with the Cell C Sharks heading south to Cape Town to take on the DHL Stormers in the opening fixture of the double-round on Saturday.

PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA Preview – Round 1

The domestic rugby scene is set to explode back into action on Saturday as the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA kicks off, marking the DHL Stormers, Cell C Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions’ competition debuts.

Kriel to lead Emirates Lions in Pretoria

Dan Kriel will captain the Emirates Lions in their opening match of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA, when they travel north on the N1 to take on the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

FNB Varsity Cup: UCT's unbeaten run continues

The University of Cape Town smashed their counterparts from Bloemfontein's Central University of Technology 76-5 in Pretoria on Monday, to move to the top of the FNB Varsity Cup log after five rounds, and ensured the Ikeys remain the only unbeaten side in the competition.

FNB Varsity Cup: Ixias shock Maties on day of drama

Three of the four matches in round six of the FNB Varsity Cup played in Pretoria on Friday resulted in dramatic finishes, with the result only confirmed in the last play of each match.

Hugo hat-trick breaks DHL Stormers’ hearts

A quick-fire second-half hat-trick by Cell C Sharks lock Reniel Hugo saw the Durbanites get their PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA campaign off to a winning start by beating the DHL Stormers by 33-30 in an eight-try thriller on a glorious sunny autumn day at Cape Town Stadium.

Late surge steers Vodacom Bulls to victory in Pretoria

Two tries in the closing 14 minutes steered the Vodacom Bulls to an encouraging 24-9 victory against the Emirates Lions in their PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA opener at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening.

Rainbow Cup SA: Sharks and Bulls on top in Round 1

The PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA got off to a flying start on Saturday afternoon with a drama-filled match in Cape Town when the Cell C Sharks edged the DHL Stormers 33-30, while the Vodacom Bulls defeated neighbours Emirates Lions 24-9 thanks to late surge in their evening encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.