[2] After finishing high school, Stander moved to Johannesburg to join the Golden Lions academy prior to the 2012 season.
[4] The Golden Lions U19s finished the season in second spot on the log to qualify for the title play-offs; Stander came on as a replacement in the semi-final, with his side losing 14–24 to Western Province U19 in Stellenbosch.
[5] Stander made his first class debut during the 2013 Vodacom Cup, starting their 19–30 defeat against the Griffons,[6] in what turned out to be his only appearance in a Golden Lions shirt.
[2] He made six appearances for them during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition and scoring his first senior try, an effort right before half-time in a 51–7 victory over Kenyan invitational side Simba XV.
[8] He made one appearances for the SWD Eagles during the 2014 Currie Cup qualification tournament, in a 33–31 victory against the Border Bulldogs in East London.