Stormers excited for ‘legendary’ Steven Kitshoff reunion

Former DHL Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff is set to return to Cape Town for the first time since taking up his second overseas stint with Ulster, but will be pitted against fellow two-time World Cup winner Frans Malherbe on Saturday.

Kitshoff, who captained the DHL Stormers to back-to-back Vodacom URC finals, winning one, is set to face his former side as part of Ulster’s mini-tour of South Africa.

The 32-year-old took up the opportunity to move to Ireland after the World Cup. It is his second stint overseas after he spent three years with French side Bordeaux between 2015 and 2017.

We have got an old friend coming to DHL Stadium this weekend. Make sure you are there to say howzit to Kitsie on Saturday.

🎟️ Get your tickets here https://t.co/gfx9WuWejO#STOvULS #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/Ty1soBwmfX

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) March 25, 2024

Ulster will take on the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium, a week after opening their URC tour with a narrow defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

It will be the first time that Kitshoff takes on the Stormers – where he started his professional career as a teenager in 2011 – and he is set to face Springbok teammate and long-term scrumming partner Malherbe during the clash.

“They’ve scrummed against each other twice a week for the last 14 years,” Stormers assistant coach Labeeb Levy said.

“I think it’s going to be interesting, because they know each other so well. They are big mates. He’s a very good scrummager, but so is Frans. We are looking forward to it.

“It’s actually exciting for us to see Kitsie back at home,” Levy added. “He has been here since his school days, skipping the age-group rugby to go straight to playing for the Stormers. He is a legend of Cape Town and a household name.

“We will welcome him, but when the referee blows the whistle, it will be a different story. But we are really happy to welcome him back and I’m sure there will be some tales to tell after the game.”