Stormers Sign Haashim Pead From Lions in Surprise Scrumhalf Deal
- The Stormers and Lions reached an agreement over scrumhalf Haashim Pead after weeks of uncertainty about the 21-year-old's future
- A third party assisted in facilitating the transfer, with the fee described as reasonable, though full contract details remain undisclosed
- Pead could make his Stormers debut as early as 10 October against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium
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The Stormers have secured a deal to sign Lions scrumhalf Haashim Pead, ending weeks of speculation about the 21-year-old's future in South African rugby.
An agreement between the two franchises has been finalised, with a third party reportedly stepping in to assist the Stormers in completing the transfer. The fee involved has been described as "reasonable", though the contract length and finer financial details have not been disclosed.
Pead's Debut Could Come Against the Sharks
The Cape Town-born youngster is expected to join the Stormers following their two-match European tour, which kicks off next Friday against Connacht in Galway before a second fixture against Edinburgh at Scotstoun Stadium on 2 October. If the timeline holds, Pead could make his first appearance for the franchise against the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on 10 October.
The move is particularly significant given Pead's roots in Bo-Kaap and his schooling at Bishops, making a return to the Western Cape a natural fit.
From Junior Bok Star to Stormers Target
Pead rose to prominence at last year's Junior World Championship, where he scored six tries as the Junior Springboks claimed the title. His performances marked him out as one of the most promising young scrumhalves in the country.
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At the Lions, however, Pead found opportunities limited. He sat behind Springbok Morné van den Berg and Nico Steyn in the pecking order, restricting his exposure to consistent game time at URC level.
The Stormers' decision to pursue Pead was driven in part by a shortage in the position. Veteran Springbok Cobus Reinach remains the first-choice scrumhalf, but second-choice Imad Khan is sidelined with a serious knee injury. The franchise named Ezekiel Ngobeni, Jayden Brits and Stefan Ungerer as the remaining scrumhalf options in a 56-man squad announced this week.
Pead's arrival would add both depth and top-end potential to a position that has become a point of vulnerability for the Stormers heading into the new URC season.
Source: Briefly News
