- The Stormers have secured a towering forward whose physical presence could add a new dimension to their pack
- John Dobson has explained why the Western Cape-born lock fits the club’s long-term recruitment plans
- The 24-year-old has a clear priority before his Cape Town move, despite having his future settled
Source: Twitter
The DHL Stormers have signed Hollywoodbets Sharks lock Corné Rahl, with the 24-year-old set to join the Cape Town side in July 2027. The towering second-row forward will complete the move at the end of the current season, giving director of rugby John Dobson another option as he builds the squad for the future.
Rahl, who comes from Montagu in the Western Cape, stands 2.03 metres tall and weighs 122 kilograms. His arrival is expected to strengthen the Stormers’ depth in the second row.
The Stormers confirmed the signing on 16 October, with Rahl set to join the Cape Town side in July 2027
Why John Dobson wanted Corné Rahl
Dobson believes the lock has the qualities the Stormers need, both physically and in terms of his long-term development.
“Corné is a player who has shown he can stand up to the best in the game and at 24 he has his best years ahead of him,” Dobson said.
He also highlighted Rahl’s connection to the region, noting that he attended Oakdale Agricultural High School, where he was one year ahead of future Stormers teammate Paul de Villiers.
“He’s a big man who has shown an impressive work-rate and we are looking forward to seeing how he develops his game once he joins us here,” Dobson added.
Stormers address second-row depth
The signing comes after locks Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden moved to France at the end of the previous season.
Dobson said the club wanted to invest in a player with significant long-term potential.
“With Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden both having moved to France at the end of last season, we wanted to invest in a player who has real long-term potential and we have that in Corné,” he said.
Source: Getty Images
Rahl focused on Sharks before Cape Town move
Rahl will remain focused on the Sharks before making the switch to Cape Town. He welcomed the certainty around his future but stressed that his current responsibilities come first.
“Right now, I am obviously focused on performing for my current team, before I make the move to Cape Town next year,” he said.
The 24-year-old is also eager to become part of the Stormers’ plans, believing the club is moving in the right direction.
“There is no doubt that the DHL Stormers are building something special, and I am also looking forward to being a part of that once I join next season,” he said.
Until the end of the current campaign, Rahl will continue turning out for the Sharks before beginning his next chapter with the Stormers.
John Dobson shares his ambitions for the Champions Cup
Briefly News previously reported that Stormers director of rugby John Dobson wants a South African team to reach the Investec Champions Cup final this season.
He believes the competition plays an important role in South African rugby, but his ambitions run deeper. As the Stormers aim to make their mark against Europe's leading clubs, Dobson has also highlighted an opportunity to engage more local supporters in the tournament.
Source: Briefly News
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