The Stormers, the Cape Town-based professional rugby union franchise competing in the United Rugby Championship, unveiled a completely new logo in August 2025. The redesign replaced the lightning bolt emblem that had been worn on the team’s kits since 1999, marking the franchise’s first major logo change in over 25 years.[1]
Design and History
The Stormers’ visual identity dates back to the franchise’s official inception in 1997, when the team previously competed in Super Rugby under the Western Province name.[2] In 1998, the “Western Stormers” wore a jersey designed to represent the three unions that made up the regional franchise, topped by a triangular logo with a wave illustrating the “storm.”[3]
In 1999, the team became “The Stormers” and adopted the lightning bolt logo that would define the brand for the next 26 years.[3] A slight tweak to the logo followed in 2007, which was the franchise’s first redesign since 1999.[2]
The current logo, unveiled on 12 August 2025 ahead of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season, features the iconic hoops of the DHL Stormers jersey wrapping around and interlocking in a design that nods to the heritage of the team while showing constant movement.[4] The hoops connect with a subtle lightning bolt in the centre, while the shape of the logo itself invokes the dimensions of the team’s home ground, DHL Stadium in Cape Town.[4]
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux said the previous logo was “over 25 years old and past due an upgrade,” adding that the new logo “holds far more symbolism, with the hoops of the jersey making up an icon that represents the unity of the various communities that support our team.”[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The new identity is framed by the mantra “In it together,” which seeks to bring together the various communities that support the club.[4] The interlocking hoops reference the blue and white hoops of the traditional Western Province jersey, while the subtle lightning bolt in the centre maintains a connection to the team’s previous identity.[5] The overall shape of the emblem mirrors the dimensions of DHL Stadium, the team’s home ground.[4]
Following the rebrand, the new-look home kit features the iconic blue and white hoops, black shorts, black socks and a disa on the back of the jersey.[6]
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