Montpellier have announced the signing of a Stormers stalwart for the 2026-27 season.
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The Top 14 club announced on Wednesday that lock Ruben van Heerden will make the move to France at the end of the current season.
Van Heerden, currently sidelined after undergoing thumb surgery, has become a key figure for the Stormers since arriving in Cape Town three years ago. A consistent presence in the engine room, he has regularly taken charge of the lineout and played a central role in the Cape side’s set-piece structures.
He effectively replaces fellow Springbok Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, who departed Montpellier to join the Vodacom Bulls earlier this season
Van Heerden is expected to return in time to feature in the Stormers’ push towards the Vodacom URC playoffs, with the run-in set to mark the 28-year-old’s final contribution in Cape Town.
The Stormers are refreshed after a two-week break and looking to bounce back from successive Vodacom URC defeats to the Sharks.
The Cape club has re-signed loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani, while veteran flank Deon Fourie is back in training having recovered from a bicep injury.
It’s like he’s never left,” Snyman said of Dayimani, who returned from French Top 14 club Racing 92. “He’s a special player with amazing speed and a great skill set. He links well with the backs and can add real variation. When the game gets fast and loose, he’s a guy who can open it up.
You’ve got guys who are really putting in the hard work, and then later in the game when it opens up, we can maybe use that space and those opportunities.”
While Fourie is not yet match-fit, he is being gradually reintegrated.
“We will see exactly where he is and how we can use him,” Snyman said. “Obviously the first two, three games, he’s not really match fit, but hopefully we can select a team where we can bring him up to speed.
“He’s worked hard and he’s tough mentally. He can go to dark places and he can really push himself. He obviously has a lot of experience and brings strong leadership. It’s not just about relieving workload, it’s about standards in the group.”
Several other players are also back in training having recovered from injuries, including centres Ruhan Nel and Dan du Plessis and winger Seabelo Senatla
