Stitched in time, woven from the threads of memory, the 2024/25 DHL Stormers home jersey is an evocative tribute to legendary players from across the generations.

For the first time in the team’s history, the jersey carries the names of every player to have represented the Stormers — more than 350 rugby heroes from 1998 to 2024.

This makes the kit a tribute to legacy as much as a shared commitment to a bright tomorrow.

And now, in celebration of the new jersey, as official associate partner of the DHL Stormers, BrightRock proudly presents Bound by the Jersey: a 10-part video series that brings past and present DHL Stormers players into the studio to share stories, reflect on the evolution of the game, and explore the pivotal Change Moments that shaped their careers and their lives.

In the first episode, Stormers star Damian Willemse joins former fullback legend Gio Aplon for an honest, heartfelt conversation that moves between light-hearted banter and deep personal insight.

“Who do you think would win in a speed test between the two of us?” Damian asks playfully.

It’s a tough call, admits Gio. “I mean, you’ve got a double World Cup winner here. Scored a lot of intercept tries. They couldn’t get hold of him.”

That’s a reference to Damian’s elite pedigree, as part of the double World Cup-winning Springbok squad in 2019 and 2023.

Beneath the camaraderie, the duo are bound by mutual respect. While they represented the union during different eras, Gio and Damian have a lot more in common than you might think.

They’re both world-renowned backs who have been praised for their versatility and speed. They’re both much-loved Springboks. And both started their professional rugby careers with the union.

During the easy-going conversation, Damian reminisces about one of his most unforgettable moments in a Stormers jersey: a thrilling intercept try against the Hurricanes at Newlands in early 2020.

“Just hearing that crowd in the corner there,” he says, “it was deafening. Everything came together that day. One of those games I’ll always carry with me.”

Gio nods. “Newlands felt like an earthquake when you were running. The roar from 40 000 fans, nothing compares. You don’t just hear the crowd. You feel it.”

Both players reflect on their final games at the stadium. Even in defeat, the memory of the fans, the field, and the privilege of wearing the jersey leave a mark deeper than any scoreboard could show.

As Bound by the Jersey unfolds, the players in the series venture beyond the game to share their thoughts on growth, identity, and transformation.

The conversations are full of moments that reflect the ethos of “playing the bounce”, which means being ready for whatever the game or life throws at you.

“You don’t choose rugby,” says Gio. “Rugby chooses you. And it demands resilience, discipline, humility, and the ability to adapt.”

That’s something that carries through into everything in life. For Damian, the biggest lesson from the game is not to take anything for granted. The injuries, the setbacks, the bench time — they all teach you how to grow.

The unpredictable nature of the bounce instils a sense of gratitude, too, for everything that comes your way.

“There were always more talented or harder-working players than me,” admits Gio. “But I was the one who got the opportunity. That’s why I’m grateful, and why I never took this jersey for granted.”

Bound by the Jersey also features reflections on leadership from captains past and present, Corne Krige and Deon Fourie; the secrets of speed on the wing from Breyton Paulse and Angelo Davids; stories of grit and comeback from JD Schickerling and De Kock Steenkamp; and a down-to-earth, entertaining chat about “what prop dreams are made of” from Neethling Fouché and Deon Carstens.

For the love of rugby and the love of change, tune in to Bound by the Jersey on YouTube to see for yourself!