The Stormers and Sharks meet in a high-profile United Rugby Championship derby at DHL Stadium on Saturday, with a host of Springboks involved in a contest between the tournament’s leading attack and its strongest defence.
The Sharks have scored 67 points in their opening matches, the second-highest total in the URC. They face a Stormers side that has conceded only 32 points, compared with 44 by the Durban-based team.
The visitors will need to be precise if they are to break through John Dobson’s defensive organisation and make it three wins in a row. Their returning Springboks made an immediate impact last weekend, but the Stormers present a more demanding challenge in Cape Town.
A victory would give the Stormers an important opportunity to reduce the gap to the Sharks in the URC standings. A bonus-point win could even lift them above their opponents.
JP Pietersen’s Sharks can draw confidence from their record in this fixture. They defeated the Stormers in both meetings last season, while the Capetonians lost only twice at home throughout that campaign, with one of those defeats coming against the Sharks.
The Stormers have strengthened their selection with the return of Damian Willemse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Paul de Villiers, Wilco Louw and Deon Fourie.
Kick-off is at 16:00 South African time. Morne Ferreira is the referee and the match will be broadcast on SuperSport.
Stormers v Sharks
Date: Saturday, 10 October 2026
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA time: 16:00
Referee: Morne Ferreira
TV: SuperSport
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Stephan Lewies, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Ivan van Zyl, 23 Gianni Lombard.