The DHL Stormers have announced that highly promising Hollywoodbets Sharks lock Corne Rahl has been identified as a solution to the loss of two second row stalwarts and will be joining the Cape club at the end of the current season.
It was rumoured before the Stormers’ game against the All Blacks that the Stormers were talking to Rahl and that was confirmed with Friday’s announcement that the 24-year-old will be moving to Cape Town in July next year.
A product of Oakdale College near Riversdale and reared in Montagu, Rahl is regarded as a Western Cape rugby product so in a sense he will be returning home.
Imposing lock Corné Rahl has signed with us and will join the squad at the end of the current season in July 2027. Full story: https://t.co/wOcJyYAn01 #inittogether https://t.co/Y3FSU1YRtc
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) October 16, 2026
When he arrives Rahl will link up with a man who is fast becoming one of Oakdale’s most celebrated rugby products, along with CJ Stander, who played for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, Springbok flanker Paul de Villiers.
Rahl will however see the season out at the Sharks, the club he has been contracted to since school, and stressed in the press release announcing his move that he would be fully committed to the Durban club until the end of the current term.
“Right now, I am obviously focused on performing for my current team, before I make my move to Cape Town next year,” said Rahl.
“I am glad that my future is secure and with this announcement done I can focus on playing rugby. There is no doubt that the Stormers are building something special, and I am also looking forward to being part of that once I join next season.”
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
At 2.03 metres tall and weighing 122 kilograms, Rahl brings physical intensity to his game and has the archetypical attributes to grow into one of the game’s top locks, something that the Boks’ most capped player Eben Etzebeth predicted for him when he first moved to the Sharks and linked up with Rahl a few years ago when the youngster was just 20.
He has had his career progress held up a bit by injury and is not with the Sharks on their current overseas tour but Stormers director of rugby has made no secret that he regards him highly and considers him to have a big future in the game.
Most importantly, he’s a long term investment for the Stormers, who lost Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden, both now capped Boks, during the off-season.
“Corne 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,” said Dobson.
“It is important for players to understand the region and what rugby means here and as a product of Oakdale he certainly fits the bill in that regard. He’s a big man who has shown impressive work rate and we are looking forward to seeing how he develops his game once he joins us here.
“With Salmaan and Ruben 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 Corne.”