Stormers looking forward to home comforts at Cape Town Stadium — Van Heerden

Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden is hoping a return to the Cape Town Stadium for the team’s final four games of the regular United Rugby Championship season will help them achieve their goal of making the playoffs.

The Stormers are currently in 10th place on the points table but can now look forward to playing on home turf in familiar surroundings again, after playing the majority of their matches away from home up to now.

Van Heerden, who’ll also earn his 50th cap for the Stormers in the match against Connacht this weekend, said this week it felt like “ages ago” that the team played a home match. He pointed out the Stormers had played just four games at Cape Town Stadium this season, with only one there this year.

‘Important stretch’

“Playing at home makes a big difference,” said the 27-year-old lock, who joined the Stormers in January of 2023.

“I don’t think people on the outside realise (what a difference it makes). We’ve only played at the stadium once this year, it feels like ages ago as well.

“Remember we played Toulon (in the Champions Cup) in Gqeberha and Glasgow in Stellenbosch. I love Cape Town Stadium and I feel we play our best there, and that’s why the next four games is such an important stretch for us in our fight to make the top eight.”

‘It’s not about me’

Following this weekend’s match against Connacht, who’re 13th on the points table and also fighting for a place in the quarter-finals, the Stormers take on Benetton, Dragons and Cardiff — all in Cape Town.

While Van Heerden said it was an “honour and privilege” to reach 50 matches for the Stormers he said the next four weeks were about helping the team achieve their goals.

“I’m looking forward to it and hope we can do well on Saturday.

“It’s 100% not about personal accolades, though getting to 50 is special, but it’s not about me.

“Connacht are also fighting to get into the top eight and they’ll come out firing.

“The reality is with only four games remaining (in the regular season) we’re running out of runway, so it’s almost knockout rugby for us.”

He added: “We know we are such a good team, and we know what we’re capable of, and we want to rectify some of the poor results we’ve had this season, so the desire is there, and there is time to still do that.”