Springboks youngster set to break Siya Kolisi’s transfer record

According to Rapport, the Cape Town side are keen to secure the services of the highly rated 21-year-old, despite Pead being contracted to the Lions until 2028.

That means the Stormers would have to pay a transfer fee if they are to prise him away from Johannesburg.

Rapport claims the fee could surpass the R800,000, just under £37,000, paid for Siya Kolisi’s move from the Sharks to the Stormers, which currently stands as the record for a transfer between two South African clubs.

The Lions were reportedly prepared to release Pead in exchange for Stormers prop Sazi Sandi, but John Dobson was unwilling to sanction the deal.

Sandi is contracted to the Stormers until June 2027 and has already agreed to join the Bulls once that contract expires.

The Stormers’ interest in Pead comes after Imad Khan suffered a serious knee injury against the All Blacks last month.

Cobus Reinach is also regularly away on Springbok duty, while the club have lost Dewaldt Duvenage to retirement and Asad Moos to the Lions.

Pead has rapidly enhanced his reputation with a string of impressive performances for the Junior Springboks at Under-20 level.

Sharp around the breakdown and fearless in attack, the scrum-half has emerged as one of South Africa’s most exciting young prospects and looks every inch a future Springbok.

Pead was selected for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, where he enjoyed his breakthrough tournament.

He scored six tries in five games, the second-highest tally in the competition, while also breaking the record for metres gained by a scrum-half in the group stages of the World Rugby U20 Championship.

His 232 metres surpassed the previous record of 226m, set by France legend Antoine Dupont in 2016.

His performances earned him an invitation to train with the Springboks after the tournament.

Pead began playing rugby for Bo-Kaap (area of Cape Town) club Schotsche Kloof Walmers RFC, having grown up watching his father captain the first team.

He represented Western Province at the 2023 Craven Week, scoring two tries as WP went unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Following his impressive World Rugby U20 Championship campaign, Pead was included in the Golden Lions squad for the 2025 Currie Cup.

Stormers head coach John Dobson admitted the club would love to bring the Cape Town-born scrum-half back home.

“He is a Cape boy. We would love to have him back,” Dobson told Rapport of Pead.

“It’s a matter between him and the Lions. We would love to have him, but it’s subject to the Lions because he is their player.”

But how many of their last 25 captains can you remember? Test your rugby knowledge and see if you can name every player to have led the Springboks in their most recent appearances.