Stormers XXIII recall Gary Porter for Lions Currie Cup 2026 test

Stormers XXIII will have lock Gary Porter back for Friday’s Currie Cup meeting with the Lions at Ellis Park, with the Cape side needing a strong result to keep its semi-final hopes alive. The match is the competition’s seventh-round fixture and is scheduled for 28 August 2026.

Stormers are fifth on 16 points, level with the Boland Cavaliers and two points behind the Pumas in third. The Lions sit on 15 points, while the Sharks XV remain in contention on 13. With only the leading four advancing, the result at Johannesburg will have a direct bearing on the qualification race.

Porter’s return strengthens the Stormers’ lineout after Luan Botha impressed in last week’s 50-26 win over the Vodacom Bulls XV in Pretoria. That victory kept Stormers in the playoff contest, although the team conceded three late tries after receiving a yellow card.

Assistant coach Pine Pienaar has warned that the Stormers cannot allow the table calculations to distract them from the Lions. He believes concentrating on bonus-point requirements or other permutations could leave the side without the performance needed to reach the semi-finals.

The Lions have reached the last two Currie Cup finals, making them a significant obstacle despite their position outside the top four. Pienaar has urged his players to focus on improving their overall performance rather than pursuing a four-try bonus as a separate target.

Stormers enter the fixture unbeaten in their last five matches, with two wins and three draws. The Lions’ recent run contains two victories, two draws and one defeat. Stormers’ defensive response against the Bulls, particularly while under pressure late in the match, has encouraged the coaching staff ahead of the decisive final-round encounter.