Wandisile Simelane says he’s been thriving at the Stormers because of the belief of the coaches and his teammates.
Simelane has signed a contract extension to stay in Cape Town until 2028.
The 27-year-old utility back, who covers both outside centre and fullback for the Stormers, has steadily grown into one of the most valuable pieces in John Dobson’s backline puzzle since arriving in 2024.
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Simelane says the challenge of mastering two vastly different positions has pushed his rugby intelligence and understanding of the game to new levels.
“The way you see the game at fullback and the way you see it at No 13 is two different sports,” he said.
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Having Springbok stars around him has played a major role in accelerating that development.
“The guys around me [at the Stormers] help me a lot, guys like [Springboks] Damian [Willemse] and Warrick Gelant.
“I’m just grateful to grow my game in both positions.”
But beyond the technical growth, the midfielder believes the Stormers’ environment has given him the freedom to express himself while still demanding high standards.
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“There are plenty of top players in this squad and the overall environment has challenged me while also allowing me to express myself.”
That balance – competition without restriction – was a key factor in his decision to extend his stay in Cape Town.
“I’ve got no doubt that this is the best place for me and I just want to do everything I can to help the club succeed,” he added.
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More to come from magic Wandi 🪄 #inittogether pic.twitter.com/qdEiW24P0p
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 21, 2026
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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