Following a whirlwind few months for club and country, flyhalf sensation Yaqeen Ahmed feels like he belongs in the Stormers No 10 jersey, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
The 20-year-old made his Stormers debut in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener on 7 August at Cape Town Stadium after helping the Junior Springboks retain the Junior World Championship and representing SA A earlier this year.
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu away on Springbok duty and deputy Jurie Matthee nursing his way back from injury, Ahmed has the inside track at 10 when the Stormers kick off the new Vodacom URC season against Connacht on 25 September.
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“When I got my chance [against the All Blacks], the first thing was to take it,” Ahmed told reporters on Tuesday, while showing off the 2026-27 Stormers home jersey. “Chances like this don’t come often, and if you miss this one, it might not come again.
“Being able to play against New Zealand wearing the No 10 jersey is really special.
“Having guys like Sacha, Jurie, Kyle Smith and Dominic [Malgas] around, it’s nice to be able to learn from them. It doesn’t matter whether you’re starting or on the bench.
“My goal going forward is to keep learning from Sacha and Jurie, and whatever chance I get, I’m going to want to take it.”
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On his Stormers bow and the way forward, he added: “It’s taken hard work to get to where I am. Now, I think it’s just about continuing to put in the work at training, and listening and learning.
“My dream club was always the Stormers … when I put this jersey on, it’s quite emotional. I feel like I belong here and I want to do the best I can while I’m here.”
The Wynberg Boys’ High prodigy also chatted about his time in the Bok camp, and the moment he shared from attack guru Tony Brown during the 20 June SA A-Zimbabwe clash.
“Coaches like Rassie [Erasmus], Tony Brown, you learn a lot from them but also the seniors there, like Siya [Kolisi]. You can take that knowledge back to the Stormers and help the guys.
“It definitely helped me, getting that experience and exposure to a pro environment.
“[Brown] was giving me a speech about being confident, [saying] ‘You’re there for a reason, they wouldn’t pick you if you weren’t good enough’.
“He said I must take in that moment, know what I need to do, and just enjoy myself and play my game.”
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Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Yaqeen will take his shot to leapfrog Sacha appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Following a whirlwind few months for club and country, flyhalf sensation Yaqeen Ahmed feels like he belongs in the Stormers No 10 jersey.
The post Yaqeen will take his shot to leapfrog Sacha appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
