At the Springboks, Rassie Erasmus has long insisted that form matters more than age, and few players embody that belief better than Cobus Reinach. At 35, the experienced scrum-half is not talking about winding down his career. Instead, he is looking ahead, openly admitting that the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia remains a realistic target after a remarkable return to South African rugby with the Stormers.
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Speaking at a Stormers press conference on Monday, Reinach said the ambition is very much alive. It might sound bold for a player in his mid-thirties, but recent evidence suggests it is far from unrealistic. In fact, 2025 could almost be described as a late-career breakthrough season for the veteran Springbok, even if that sounds strange given his long résumé.
Before this year, most of Reinach’s 50 Test caps came from the bench, where his pace and eye for opportunity made him a devastating impact player. In 2025, however, his role shifted significantly. He started seven of his 11 Test appearances and crossed the try line five times, underlining just how influential he has become when trusted from the opening whistle.
Erasmus has always known that when Reinach is on the field, tries tend to follow. Whether scoring himself or creating chances for teammates, the scrum-half has an instinctive feel for attacking Rugby World Cup 2027. The numbers back it up. During his time with the Sharks between 2012 and 2017, he scored 16 tries in 93 appearances.
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Rugby World Cup: All in on the Stormers For Now
In England, he flourished with Northampton Saints, grabbing 29 tries in just 70 matches. His spell in France with Montpellier was equally productive, yielding 35 tries in 102 games. At the test level, his 19 tries in 50 appearances place him among the most prolific scrum-halves South Africa has produced. I’d be lying if I said I’m not thinking about the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Reinach said.
It can be done if you look after yourself properly. Recovery, conditioning, and being honest with your body are key. Rugby doesn’t stop, and I still have goals. For now, though, my focus is on contributing to the Stormers and helping the team grow. That contribution will soon include experiencing South African derbies again, something Reinach has not done for many years.
Having spent eight seasons in Europe, he admitted the intensity of local rivalries had been easy to forget. I haven’t played in South African derbies for a long time, and I’ve never played in this one, he said. Just hearing the boys talk about it, you realize how big it is. It’s physical, it’s going to be a full house, and it’s a proper contest.
Reinach has no shortage of derby experience from abroad. In England, the East Midlands clash between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers is among the fiercest rivalries in the Rugby World Cup. France, too, has its own heated contests. Still, he believes the South African north-south rivalry stands apart. In France, there are rivalries, but this feels different, he explained.
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Rugby World Cup Final: Back Where He Belongs
The north-south derby is something special. The recent Lions game was the first one I played after coming back, and it’s tough. You forget how hard it is to play against your own people. Beyond the competitive edge, Reinach has clearly relished being home. After nearly a decade overseas, returning to Cape Town has brought a renewed sense of enjoyment and purpose.
I’m really happy to be back in South Africa, he said. The culture is something I’ve missed a lot, and the way the Stormers play suits me. It’s fast, attacking Rugby World Cup Final, with quick ball and plenty of ambition. He was quick to dismiss any suggestion that upcoming opponents like the Bulls might be easier challenges. If you look at the individuals and the team as a whole, they’re not weak at all, Reinach said.
They’ve been unlucky in a few games. One win can change everything, and then momentum builds. We’ll have to be at our best in every department. For Reinach, that mindset applies not just to weekly matches, but to the bigger picture too. If form truly is everything, and age really is just a number, then his Rugby World Cup Final dream may yet become reality.
He continued that form into the new season with Leinster and Ireland, playing more games at club level than he has over the past couple of seasons, as Leinster are slowly getting into the swing of things and grinding out results, no small thanks to the impact of players like Furlong off the bench.
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