The Tenbet Lions have confirmed that 2025 World Junior Player of the year Haashim Pead will head to the DHL Stormers with immediate effect after an agreement was reached with the player to exit his contract.
The Lions confirmed the move through a statement released on Monday and it seems Pead will join the Stormers within days.
“The Lions Rugby Company can officially confirm the departure of scrumhalf Haashim Pead who will be leaving the franchise to join the DHL Stormers in Cape Town,” the statement said.
“Pead, who began his professional career at the Lions in 2024, has made the decision to continue his rugby journey in the Western Cape.
“During his time in Johannesburg, he established himself as a standout talent, earning his senior domestic debut in the Currie Cup against the Vodacom Bulls followed by an international debut against the Newcastle Red Bulls.
“Following an exceptional rise through the ranks, Pead was named the Junior Player of the Year in 2025. His consistently impressive performances at domestic level recently earned him a call-up to Rassie Erasmus’s Springbok alignment camp for the 2025/26 season.
“Lions Rugby Company CEO- Rudolf Straeuli: "Haashim has been a dedicated and exceptional talent since beginning his professional career with us in 2024. While we are sad to see him depart Johannesburg, we respect his decision to take on a new challenge with the DHL Stormers. We thank him for his service to the Lions and wish him success in the next chapter of his career."
PEAD PAID OWN MONEY TO BUY HIMSELF OUT OF CONTRACT
The departure came as Pead apparently raised the money to buy himself out of his contract, including paying a part of it himself. While he has not spoken publicly, it is believed a massive part of the decision was because his partner is in Cape Town and could not leave because of work circumstances.
The Lions were reported to have asked a R800 000 transfer fee for Pead, who was contracted until 2028, which the Stormers said they were not willing to pay. Somewhere in between in the past few days something changed, with the Lions accepting the buy-out of his contract and Pead will represent the Stormers this season and is expected to sign a contract until 2030.
News24 reported on Saturday that an agreement had been reached, with a third party helping the Stormers pay a “reasonable” transfer fee. Rapport further reported on Sunday that Pead also contributed to the fee to buy him out and that Pead could be in Cape Town by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Pead was third in line at the Lions, where he was playing behind Morne van den Berg, the Springbok halfback and Nico Steyn. He earned 15 caps for the Lions last season, mostly off the bench.
The Stormers will welcome him, especially with Imad Khan injured until at least March next year and Cobus Reinach set to miss a portion of the season for Springbok duty. The Stormers’ other halfback Dewald Duvenhage retired after the match against the All Blacks last month.
GREW UP IN THE CAPE
Pead was born in the Bo-Kaap and grew up in the club rugby circles in the Cape, with his father playing for SK Walmers. Pead told Kickoff magazine in a recent article that he always had a rugby ball in his hand.
“My love for rugby began, you know, watching the local community club - SK Walmers - because that's where my dad played. So as a kid, you were there, I was there watching my dad and then while he was playing, I would play rugby on the sidelines or behind the try line with a couple of my friends. My uncle also played rugby. So, he and my dad played together for SKW,” Pead said.
“I watched a lot of rugby and rugby was obviously always in my family. It was a big thing for me. When I started, I didn't sort of straight into contact, I actually started playing touch rugby at first.
“And then I played there for a couple of years and then played soccer as well. I only started playing full contact rugby at about 12 years old. I managed to play one sevens tournament and fortunately enough I got an opportunity to go to Bishop's. I got the scholarship through Connect Sports Academy. Yeah, that's where the opportunity came from, because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been in the position that I am today.”
The Junior Boks star is seeking more game time after finding himself behind Morné van den Berg and Nico Steyn in the Lions’ scrumhalf pecking order. The Lions have also acquired the services of Asad Moos, the former Junior Bok and UCT scrumhalf. During the Currie Cup, the Lions also used Layton Horn and Zian Cilliers in the nine jersey.
The Stormers, meanwhile, are short of depth at No 9 following Dewaldt Duvenage’s retirement and a serious knee injury to Imad Khan, while Springbok Cobus Reinach will be unavailable for periods of the URC season.
STORM IN A TEACUP
Last week Stormers coach John Dobson said in a press conference that the side was not willing to pay an exorbitant transfer fee for Pead.
“Haashim is a guy we would like at the Stormers and he would like to come to the Stormers, but he's under contract with the Lions,” Dobson said last week.
“There are conversations happening, certainly not the figures that have been quoted, nothing like that. In terms of paying transfer fees, it's not really a culture that exists in rugby. I think sometimes a player can look to buy out his contract or come to an arrangement with his union.
"So Pead is employed by the Lions, he's got the relationship with Lions. We're not going to the Lions and asking for Haashim Pead. I mean, we would love to have him. We're ready when he is available.
“Whether he becomes available is a decision between him and the Lions. There's some smoke here. I wouldn't say it's a full-blown fire, because we've told Pead we'd love to have you, but we absolutely, absolutely want to respect his contract and arrangement with the Lions.
"So if the Lions decide to release him then I think we'd be at the front of the queue.”
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen was still adamant last Thursday that Pead would stay and predicted he would become a Springbok at the Johannesburg franchise.
“He had a good pre-season. We didn't give him too much Currie Cup time as we wanted to prepare him and get him fit and ready for the All Blacks and the URC. I don’t see him as a Currie Cup player.
“We believe we have really shifted the URC group in terms of our pre-season and we showed a couple of glimpses of that against the All Blacks. We are hoping that we can start the season like that and Haashim is important for that.”