5. WILCO LOUW – STORMERS
Wilco Louw’s outstanding performances against the All Blacks have underlined why his return to Cape Town could be a huge signing for the Stormers. Louw returns to the Stormers after his spell with the Bulls, bringing elite scrummaging ability and growing international experience back to Cape Town.
The tighthead has also spent time in England and Japan, but his recent performances have demonstrated just how valuable he can be at the highest level. Louw was one of South Africa’s strongest performers during the first Test against New Zealand, repeatedly putting pressure on the All Blacks at scrum time. His battle with Ethan de Groot was one of the defining physical contests of the match.
With Thomas du Toit no longer at the Stormers and Frans Malherbe also absent from the picture, Louw’s form has arrived at an important time. His return could give the Stormers a dominant set-piece weapon while strengthening his own claims for further Springbok involvement.
DID YOU KNOW? Louw’s first Springbok appearance came against New Zealand in 2017, when he came off the bench in a dramatic one-point defeat in Cape Town.
4. JAMIE RITCHIE – GLASGOW WARRIORS
One of Scotland’s most recognisable forwards has crossed the divide to join the former URC champions. Perhaps the most significant transfer within Scottish rugby this summer, Jamie Ritchie crosses the historic precipice between the cities as the former Edinburgh captain signs for Glasgow Warriors.
A Scotland captain with more than 50 Test caps, Ritchie returns to his homeland after his spell with Perpignan, bringing elite breakdown ability, leadership and physicality to the reigning URC champions. His arrival instantly strengthens one of the competition’s strongest forward packs and gives Glasgow another world-class option in the back row.
There is also an intriguing narrative behind the move. Ritchie has spent much of his career synonymous with Edinburgh, making his decision to join their biggest rivals one of the most eye-catching transfers in Scottish rugby. For Glasgow, however, sentiment takes a back seat to ambition. Ritchie could be a major piece in their attempt to defend their URC crown.
DID YOU KNOW? Ritchie was handed the Scotland captaincy for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, leading his country into the tournament’s opening match against South Africa.
3. THOMAS DU TOIT – SHARKS
The two-time World Cup winner returns to Durban after establishing himself as one of the Premiership’s premier front-rowers. Few signings across world rugby carry the weight of Thomas du Toit’s return to the Sharks.
The double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok arrives from Bath after helping the English club reach new heights, bringing elite scrummaging, versatility and immense experience back to the Sharks. Du Toit can operate at both tighthead and loosehead, making him an incredibly valuable addition to a Sharks pack that has undergone significant change.
His return also comes with another major incentive: the 2027 Rugby World Cup is now approaching, meaning regular URC rugby in South Africa gives Du Toit the ideal platform to remain firmly in Rassie Erasmus’ plans. The Sharks have brought a genuine world-class front-row operator home – and his experience could be invaluable as they look to climb the URC standings.
DID YOU KNOW? Du Toit is one of a relatively small group of players to have represented South Africa at both loosehead and tighthead prop at Test level, underlining his remarkable front-row versatility.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The URC transfer market has delivered some huge moves ahead of the 2026/27 season, but which club has made the best signing?
2. CHESLIN KOLBE – STORMERS
One of the most electrifying players in world rugby is heading back to the Stormers. Cheslin Kolbe’s return to the URC is one of the most exciting transfers of the entire summer.
The Springbok superstar arrives at the Stormers after his spell in Japan, bringing two Rugby World Cup winners’ medals, extraordinary attacking ability and an unmatched ability to produce moments of individual brilliance. Kolbe is more than just a finisher. His footwork, acceleration, defensive instincts and kicking ability make him one of the most complete attacking players in the world.
His return is also part of an extraordinary Stormers recruitment drive, with fellow Springboks Siya Kolisi and Wilco Louw also heading to Cape Town. The prospect of Kolbe operating alongside a team packed with South African Test talent makes the Stormers one of the most fascinating sides to watch in the 2026/27 campaign.
DID YOU KNOW? Before becoming a Springbok superstar, Kolbe won an Olympic bronze medal in rugby sevens at Rio 2016 with South Africa.
1. SIYA KOLISI – STORMERS
The Springbok captain returns to the club where his remarkable rise to global stardom began. The biggest signing of the 2026/27 URC transfer window in our minds is Siya Kolisi. The back-to-back Rugby World Cup-winning captain returns to the Stormers after his spell with the Sharks, bringing unrivalled leadership, experience and emotional significance back to Cape Town.
Kolisi became a global superstar during his time with the Stormers, eventually leading South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in 2019 before repeating the achievement four years later. His return is therefore about far more than what he can produce on the field. He brings an extraordinary winning mentality to a Stormers squad that has also recruited fellow Springboks Cheslin Kolbe and Wilco Louw. Few URC clubs can match that combination of international pedigree.
For the Stormers, this is the return of a club icon. For the URC, it is a statement retention after much speculation that Kolisi was heading to Japan. And with the 2027 Rugby World Cup looming, Kolisi’s return to the province where it all began could hardly be more significant.
DID YOU KNOW? Kolisi became only the second captain in history to lead his country to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles, joining New Zealand’s Richie McCaw.
