Springbok World Cup winner Deon Fourie will captain DHL Western Province on the occasion of his 100th game for the union when they host the Boland Kavaliers in their final Carling Currie Cup match of the season at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
As was anticipated, WP have effectively turned into the Stormers for the eagerly awaited Cape derby, with this game forming part of the Stormers’ buildup to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which kicks off towards the end of the month.
The Stormers will play a warmup game against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in George next Friday as the second match day preparation for the international competition.
The team under Fourie’s command is a strong one, with only Luke Burger and Zachary Porthen players who will be playing on Saturday who have featured in the Currie Cup so far, with WP currently footing the log with just one log point.
Fourie famously led Province to a famous upset win over the more heavily favoured Sharks in the 2012 Currie Cup final and has deep links to the blue and white hoops so it is fitting that he will be at the helm in WP’s final game.
A true legend of the 🔵⚪️ reaches another big milestone this weekend at DHL Stadium. Be there to witness history when he leads the team out.
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) September 3, 2025
🎟️ Tickets here https://t.co/5XeCEZZ7RE#WPvBOL #wpjoulekkerding #brannas pic.twitter.com/tu4VhlPENp
At the back there is the infusion of wings Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas, centres Ruhan Nel and Jonathan Roche, while Jean-Luc du Plessis is in at flyhalf as halfback partner to Stefan Ungerer. Like Fourie, Nel is making a comeback after a fairly long injury layoff and his experience will be welcomed in the midfield.
STRONG SECOND ROW
The front row players back in action alongside last year’s SA under-20 captain Zachary Porthen are hooker JJ Kotze and Vernon Matongo, with the latter having started to make big strides towards the end of the last URC season and much will be anticipated of him this year as he continues his development.
Another former Sharks schoolboy, Ntuthuko Mchunu, is still recovering from the leg injury that has kept him sidelined from Springbok action so he will have to wait a while before making his debut for his new franchise.
The second row is a strong and experienced one with Ruben van Heerden and JD Schickerling both having played many games at both URC and Currie Cup level, while Springbok Evan Roos is another star player in a back row that also features Marcel Theunissen.
URC players featuring on the bench include lock Adre Smith, who is back from a short sabbatical in Japan, scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage turns from assistant coach into player/coach as he takes up a cover position, and Wandisile Simelane.
Connor Evans, who is one of the forward reserves, looks like he is covering flank as well as lock these days.
Labeeb Levy will act as coach in this final WP Currie Cup game before Stormers director of rugby John Dobson makes his own seasonal debut when his team tackles the Sharks in George.
A few changes as we look to end the Carling Currie Cup campaign on a high in the Cape derby at DHL Stadium.
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) September 3, 2025
📢 Team announcement https://t.co/4r8qKx4jiw
🎟️ Tickets here https://t.co/5XeCEZZ7RE #WPvBOL #wpjoulekkerding #elcapeico pic.twitter.com/4M0omcUEBL
DHL Western Province team: Luke Burger, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Jonathan Roche, Leolin Zas, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Stefan Ungerer, Evan Roos, Marcel Theunissen, Deon Fourie (captain), Ruben van Heerden, JD Schickerling, Zachary Porthen, JJ Kotze, Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Oliver Reid, Cobus Eloff, Adre Smith, Connor Evans, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jurie Matthee, Wandisile Simelane.
