In the heart of Cape Town’s rugby cauldron, where every weekend spills over with grit, flair, and schoolboy rivalries that border on the mythic, one name has sizzled above the rest — Yaqeen Ahmed. Known to many simply as ‘The Chef’, the Wynberg Boys’ High flyhalf has been cooking up chaos in opposition backlines with his sizzling skill set and uncanny vision. Now, his recipe for magic will have a new kitchen: the Stormers.
Ahmed,19, headlines a formidable group of schoolboy talents who’ve committed their futures to Stormers Rugby, a move that signals the franchise’s renewed commitment to nurturing local excellence. The announcement has sent ripples of excitement through the Cape’s rugby faithful — and for good reason.
The name Stormers has weight — it’s more than just a team. It represents the hopes of an entire region. To be signed by them, to be trusted to carry that legacy forward, it’s massive. I think about my family, my school, my community… this contract isn’t just for me, it’s for all of them.
Yaqeen’s game is a feast of flair and finesse. With a sidestep that slices like a chef’s blade through defences and a pass as measured as a master’s seasoning, he’s earned his nickname not just for what he does, but how he does it — with artistry and precision.
Stormers Director of Rugby, John Dobson, believes this intake of talent, led by players like Ahmed, is the lifeblood of the franchise’s future.
This speaks to our aim as an organisation of harnessing the talent we have on our doorstep and strengthening the connection with our fans by contracting players from their communities to take our team forward. There’s something powerful about a young man pulling on the jersey of the team he’s supported since he was a boy.
Joining Ahmed in the Stormers’ 2026 cohort are some of the brightest prospects in the country. Paarl Gimnasium’s hard-running centre Markus Muller and dynamic loose forward Quintin Potgieter bring firepower and finesse. Rondebosch’s relentless Alutha Wesi adds bite to the back row, while Paul Roos Gymnasium supplies a conveyor belt of talent in Randall-John Davids, Matt van der Merwe, Jordan Steenkamp, Altus Rabe, and Gert Kemp. Boland Landbou’s snappy scrumhalf Jayden Brits and Grey College’s towering lock AJ Meyer complete a group stacked with potential.
These boys follow in illustrious footsteps. Damian Willemse’s magic boots once dazzled at Paul Roos; Salmaan Moerat brought thunder from Paarl Boys; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s and Suleiman Hartzenberg's rugby brains blossomed from Bishops to Bok camps. Now, Yaqeen and company aim to etch their names in that same storied lineage.
I know there’s pressure, but it’s the kind that fuels you. I want to be the guy little kids from Wynberg look up to and say, ‘If he made it, maybe I can too.’
With his pen now firmly on Stormers paper and his eyes set on the future, The Chef is ready to bring the heat to the next level. And if his schoolboy highlights are any indication, defenders better brace themselves — the kitchen is about to get a whole lot hotter.
