Following the change of the company name to Stormers Rugby in 2024 and the bold rebranding in 2025, the next step in the evolution of the brand will see all professional teams come under the same banner – in line with international best practice for sporting entities.
Image: Backpagepix
Following the company's name change to Stormers Rugby in 2024 and a comprehensive rebranding in 2025, the organization has moved to align all professional teams under a single brand. This shift means that teams previously competing under the Western Province name in professional leagues, such as the Currie Cup, will now be rebranded.
DHL Stormers XXIII: This team will now compete in both the Carling Currie Cup and the upcoming SA Rugby Under-23 Cup.
DHL Stormers Bolts: The professional team participating in the SA Rugby Under-20 Cup will adopt this new name.
Western Province Amateur Rugby: All amateur teams under the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) will retain the traditional Western Province brand, serving as an unrivalled pipeline for talent into the professional system.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux stated that this consolidation brings the business in line with global best practice and eliminates public confusion regarding the identities of different entities. Key benefits include:
Operational Clarity: Creating a clear, unified path for players moving from junior professional ranks to the senior DHL Stormers squad.
Marketing Reach: Consolidating digital platforms to increase the visibility of all teams under the broader Stormers reach.
Financial Efficiency: Reducing the costs associated with managing kit and branding for two separate professional identities.
Despite the brand shift, Director of Rugby John Dobson emphasized that the teams remain rooted in the region's heritage. The new-look kits will still feature the iconic blue and white hoops and the disa emblem.
To manage this transition, Hanyani Shimange has been appointed to oversee the pathway programme from the junior ranks into the XXIII set-up and senior squad. He will work alongside DHL Stormers XXIII Head Coach Labeeb Levy and a specialized coaching staff including Dewaldt Duvenage and Brok Harris.