Stormers boss John Dobson says squad depth is stronger than ever before new URC season

The Stormers believe they are better equipped than ever to compete in the new United Rugby Championship season, with Director of Rugby John Dobson highlighting the Cape-based franchise’s improved squad depth.

The Stormers have strengthened their roster with the high-profile additions of Springboks Wilco Louw, Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, who have joined the franchise ahead of the new campaign.

Dobson says the team is ready to make further progress towards the long-term ambitions of Project 2029 after showing signs of improvement last season.

“We have a stronger squad with some key signings and our institute channeling the unmatched pipeline of talent in our region into our senior squad all the time,” Dobson said at the Stormers’ season launch earlier this week.

The Stormers also produced a competitive performance against New Zealand during the middle of their pre-season, while Dobson believes the players and coaching staff have continued to make progress through their preparations.

“We made some good strides last season, and there have been more encouraging developments since then with a competitive performance against New Zealand in the middle of our pre-season, and some hard work from both players and coaches.”

The coach believes the team’s options across the squad will be especially important over the course of the season. Ruhan Nel, meanwhile, has been appointed as an inspirational club captain after demonstrating the significance of representing the Stormers.

“The depth at our disposal is better than it has ever been and in Ruhan Nel we have an inspirational club captain who has proven what playing for this team means.”

Support from the Stormers’ fan base remains another defining feature of the franchise, with attendance and viewing figures both increasing during the previous campaign.

The team averaged 26,153 spectators per match last season, representing a 4% rise compared with the previous year. That was the highest regular-season attendance in the URC for the third time in the competition’s five-year history.

Across the world, Stormers matches accumulated 9.6 million hours of viewing, a year-on-year increase of 15%. The figures made the Stormers the most-watched team in the URC and one of only four clubs in the competition to record growth in their viewership.

Dobson said the responsibility to those supporters would remain central to the team’s approach, regardless of the circumstances in individual matches.

“We know how important this team is to our fans, which is why we are committed to staying in the fight and giving everything we have every minute we are on the field, regardless of the match situation,” Dobson said.

He added that the Stormers’ players would draw motivation from the backing they receive throughout the season.

“Our team plays for the best fans in the world, and you can be sure that they will be in it together with all of you from first to last whistle this season,” he said.