Stormers sign Andre Warner on short-term deal to ease scrum-half injury crisis

The Stormers have signed veteran scrum-half Andre Warner on a short-term deal, the club confirmed ahead of their United Rugby Championship opener against Connacht on Friday. The 33-year-old, formerly of the Bulls and Lions, joins on loan from Major League Rugby side Seattle Seawolves and will remain in Cape Town until February.

The signing is the second in as many days for the Stormers at scrum-half, following the arrival of former Junior Springboks player Haashim Pead. The back-to-back recruits address a mounting injury crisis at No.9: 22-year-old Imad Khan is set to miss much of the season after tearing his ACL during a pre-season match against the All Blacks, while Cobus Reinach is expected to be unavailable for a significant portion of the campaign due to Springbok commitments.

Warner had already been training with the Stormers in Cape Town during the Seawolves’ off-season, and impressed enough in a pre-season outing in Paarl to earn the short-term contract. The arrangement was made possible through the existing partnership between the two clubs.

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson praised the deal and the relationship it reflects. “It is fantastic to have this kind of relationship with the Seawolves,” he said. “Andre has been really impressive since joining up with us in pre-season. He has been a consistent performer for many years, and you can see why in the professionalism he brings. He showed his worth in our pre-season match in Paarl and will also be able to help develop some of the exciting young players in our system.”

Seattle head coach Allen Clarke was equally enthusiastic about the opportunity for his player. “This is a fantastic opportunity for him and another positive step in our partnership with the DHL Stormers,” Clarke said. “It gives Andre the chance to keep playing at a high level during our off-season, challenge himself in a great rugby environment, and continue to grow his game. Andre is a Seawolf, and we can’t wait to welcome him home in February.”

With Warner now in the fold alongside Pead, the Stormers head into their URC campaign against Connacht with at least a workable depth chart at scrum-half, even if their preferred options remain unavailable.