Opinion: Stormers’ character at heart of miraculous turnaround in United Rugby Championship

The Stormers coaches and players deserve high praise after rolling with a series of punches that may have sent lesser teams to the canvas, writes Jon Cardinelli.

The Stormers deserve to sit at the top of the South African Shield, and in second place on the United Rugby Championship table.

They deserve to be in a position to host a URC play-off, and to feature in next season’s Champions Cup.

Those who would argue with such statements need only refer to the Stormers‘ results against local and international opposition. They’ve been the best South African side on show.

Eight months ago, however, many critics and fans feared the worst for one of South Africa‘s biggest and most important franchises.

The actions taken by Stormers and Western Province president Zelt Marais – who was later suspended after SA Rugby placed the union in administration – threatened to run the organisation into the ground.

Sponsors and key investors departed, as did a clutch of senior players. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and several others decided to move on.

Critics and former Boks with ties to the team and union voiced their concerns. The Stormers, they predicted, would become a semi-professional outfit in a matter of years unless the powers that be intervened.

The financial situation impacted on the players’ salaries. The well-publicised squabbling between senior board-members casted the franchise and all its members in an embarrassing light.

Somehow, John Dobson and his coaches kept the core of the team together during those troubled times. The culture and character of the group was tested, and while the players showed signs of bending, they never broke.

The inaugural tour to Europe panned out as many