Lions officially confirm the move of rising star Hashim Pead to the Stormers squad

Young scrumhalf Hashim Piad is preparing to return to the Stormers squad. Although a week is considered a long period in rugby, a couple of days can sometimes feel like an eternity.

On Thursday, Lions coach Ivan van Rensburg positively commented on Hashim Piad's future at Ellis Park, expressing satisfaction that the talented scrumhalf remains with the Lions and will receive more game time as part of his development within the Springbok setup.

It seems the dispute between the Lions and the Stormers has been resolved, and Piad will remain in Johannesburg. However, just two days later, the publication News24 reported that the 21-year-old player is packing his bags and heading back to his hometown of Bo-Kaap, as a move to the Stormers appears highly likely.

Piad, a graduate of Bishops in Cape Town, joined the Lions in early 2025 after being unable to secure a contract with the Stormers. According to reports, he will join the Stormers after their upcoming European tour to begin the campaign in the United Rugby Championship.

If this transfer materializes, Piad could debut for the Stormers against the Sharks in Cape Town in the third round of the URC. This would be a sharp reversal from Van Rensburg's comments made just 48 hours earlier.

Piad's significant potential was noted last year by American sports marketing giants Roc Nation, who included him in a roster that also features Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. He was one of the standout performers for the Junior Springboks at the U20 Rugby World Cup in Italy in 2025 and subsequently earned the title of Player of the Year among the Junior Springboks.

Nevertheless, within the Lions, Piad found himself behind Morne van den Berg and Nico Stein in the queue for the Springbok scrumhalf position. In the Stormers, Kobus Reinah serves as the number one scrumhalf, but there is a vacancy due to Imad Khan's serious knee injury. The Stormers will begin their URC campaign away against Connacht, followed by a home game against Edinburgh on October 2nd. The Lions will open their campaign at Ellis Park on September 26th, hosting defending champions Leinster.

Lions coach Ivan van Ruyen expressed his belief in Hashim Pead's potential, stating that the player could have a significant impact on the team in the upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season.

The Lions made it clear that they view the young Springbok Hashim Pead as a future international player, despite attempts by the Stormers to recruit him. This young midfielder was one of the topics discussed before the start of the new URC season after the Stormers put forward a transfer offer, but 21-year-old Pead decided to stay in Johannesburg.

Lions coach Cash van Ruyen believes there is still much for Pead to reveal and promised him a more significant role in the coming season. Van Ruyen noted: 'I am proud of his first season with us. He joined us after the U20 World Cup and did not participate in our pre-season training. But he has played 15 matches with us, which shows some trust from our side. He is an exceptional player.'

Van Ruyen sees Pead as a player capable of changing the course of a match, rather than just occupying a position. He emphasized: 'We want Hashim to create moments of magic for us. He is that kind of player. I am confident he will get more minutes. I am confident he will get more opportunities. I am confident he can become a Springbok with us.'

The Lions deliberately managed Pead's workload during the Currie Cup, as van Ruyen explained that the goal was to prepare the young athlete for the demands of the URC, not just to provide him with domestic appearances. He added: 'We didn't give him too much time in the Currie Cup. We wanted to prepare him and get him in shape for matches against the All Blacks and for the URC, instead of just giving him Currie Cup games.'

The Lions' strong pre-season preparation, which included a daring 41-35 loss to the All Blacks in Johannesburg, raised expectations ahead of the URC. However, Pead is not the only interesting option at the midfield position. Morne van den Berg has established himself in the Springboks squad and may be absent from the Lions for long periods, making squad depth at this position particularly important.

Nico Stein, who is himself a former junior Springbok, also impressed against the All Blacks. Van Ruyen believes that all three midfielders bring something unique. He observed: 'All three have an exceptional X-factor. All three have very good kicking game. You cannot start a season with only one midfielder. They are all different horses for different tasks, different game plans.'

The team's task will be to satisfy all three players while utilizing their contrasting strengths. Van Ruyen concluded: 'Obviously, all players want to start every game. But we must find a way to use them all wisely.'