Pieter-Steph du Toit brings up half-century of caps for the Stormers

Two-metre Pieter-Steph du Toit will bring up a milestone when he runs on against the Highlanders at Newlands on Saturday.

The versatile forward will be turning out in Stormers’ colours for the 50th time, having represented the franchise since trekking along the coast from the Sharks back in 2017.

For the 26-year-old, the move was a return to familiar territory, having grown up in Riebeek-Kasteel, north-east of Cape Town.

“I came here in 2016 and I have had a good run so far. I am really enjoying my rugby here in Cape Town,” du Toit is quoted by the Stormers website.

“The most important thing was to come back and be close to my family. Of course the lifestyle here is much nicer because it iswas closer to home.”

Pieter-Steph du Toit

Pieter-Steph du Toit values quality over quantity

Despite being a regular for both franchise and country, for the player, it has never been about the quantity of caps he racks up – but for the quality of performance in each.

His regular 100% efforts have seen him, not only become the first name on the team sheet, but also pick up prestigious individual awards, winning the SA Rugby Player of the Year award twice in three years – first in 2016, while playing the bulk of his rugby in the second row, and more recently 2018 as a blindside flanker.

Du Toit says he wasn’t even sure when his 50th cap would come.

“I was wondering last week when I would her to 50 caps for the Stormers, and it’s nice for it to come up. It is not a massive thing for me, it is about how many games you can perform and actually play well rather than just about a number.”

Pieter-Steph du Toit

The Stormers and the Highlanders kick off at 15:05 on Saturday.