It was the moment that sent director of rugby John Dobson sprinting pitchside — Oli Kebble hauled off early at Cape Town Stadium, replaced by Mhleli Khuzwayo, with no immediate explanation. Now Stormers XXIII head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb has provided the clarity anxious fans needed.

Kebble was removed under World Rugby's Recognise and Remove protocol during Friday night's 25-19 Currie Cup 2026 opener against Griquas. The mandatory concussion measure requires any player showing suspected signs to be withdrawn immediately, with no return to play permitted that evening. Dawson-Squibb was emphatic that the 34-year-old loosehead prop is not a serious concern. "Oli was called off by the match-day doctor — the protocol is Recognise and Remove," he told reporters post-match. "The doctor had seen something that made him think that Oli must come off the field. Apparently, he had a knock on his shoulder. Oli should be fine — he is definitely fine."

Kebble was not the only worry Dawson-Squibb carried out of DHL Stadium. Captain and flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis departed at half-time with a knee injury, while No 8 Wandile Mlaba absorbed a blow to the leg. Both will be assessed ahead of next Sunday's derby trip to face the Boland Cavaliers. "Hopefully JL pulls through alright," Dawson-Squibb said. "Wandile had a bit of a niggle, but he just walked past the media room and he looks fine. He had a bit of a knock on his knee, but I think he'll be OK."

The win itself was never comfortable. Stefan Ungerer crossed the whitewash in the closing minutes to seal it, but referee Stephan Geldenhuys sent the try upstairs to the TMO over a potential knock-on in the build-up. Dawson-Squibb, understandably, had a view on that. "I don't think I'd be sitting here now if that was given as a knock-on," he quipped. "He was right in position — in a better position than any camera. For me, it was clearly not forward, so we would have been fairly frustrated had that been given as forward." Geldenhuys confirmed the try, and the Stormers banked their opening five points. The match report from Friday night details how Vernon Paulo and Mfundo Ndhlovu had put the Cape side in front twice before a 13-man Griquas side nearly produced one of the great Currie Cup upsets. Boland await next Sunday — and the fitness of Du Plessis will define how Dawson-Squibb sets up his side.