The Western Province Rugby Institute (WPRI) has released their list of 43 players that will be at their facility for the best part of 2014. It is possilby their strongest ever assembled squad with 11 SA Schools players and 19 or so other Craven Week players. Good on paper is one thing. Living up to what some of the Province junior teams of the past have achieved, is an entirely different matter. There is a bit of a Bulls junior recruitment feel about this squad of players ie. some players are going to find game time very hard to come by once the under-19 season gets underway.
| # | Name | Posi | School | Region | Highest Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesley White | Flank | Bishops | WP | |
| 2 | Heinrich Buhr | Fullback | Boland Landbou | WP | Craven Week |
| 3 | Sibahle Maxwane | Centre | Dale College | Border | Craven Week |
| 4 | Ruan du Preez | Lock | Die Brandwag | ||
| 5 | Brandon Thomson | Flyhalf | Ermelo | Pumas | SA Schools |
| 6 | Ernst Stapelberg | Flyhalf | Framesby | EP | Craven Week |
| 7 | EW Viljoen | Fullback | Grey College | Free State | SA Schools |
| 8 | Martin Wiplinger | Hooker | Grey College | Free State | Craven Week |
| 9 | Dylan Harlen | Lock | Grey College | Free State | Craven Week |
| 10 | Leolin Zas | Centre | Hermanus | Boland | SA Schools |
| 11 | Charlton Jonas | Flank | HJS Paarl BH | WP | Craven Week |
| 12 | Daniel du Plessis | Hooker | HJS Paarl BH | WP | SA Schools |
| 13 | Francois van der Merwe | Prop | HJS Paarl BH | WP | Craven Week |
| 14 | Luan Boshoff | Flyhalf | HJS Paarl BH | WP | |
| 15 | Daylen Daniels | Wing | HJS Paarl BH | WP | WP u18 |
| 16 | Dewald Naude | Wing | HJS Paarl BH | WP | Craven Week |
| 17 | Damian Stevens | Scrumhalf | HJS Paarl BH | WP | Craven Week |
| 18 | Matt Reece-Edwards | Scrumhalf | Kearsney | KZN | Craven Week |
| 19 | Wiehan Jacobs | No.8 | Monument | Lions | Craven Week |
| 20 | Frans van Wyk | Prop | Monument | Lions 2012 | Craven Week 2012 |
| 21 | Dian Koen | No.8 | Outeniqua | SWD | Craven Week |
| 22 | Ryan Oosthuizen | Centre | Paarl Gim | WP | Craven Week |
| 23 | Jacques Vermeulen | Flank | Paarl Gim | WP | SA Schools |
| 24 | Regardt Louw | Hooker | Paarl Gim | WP | |
| 25 | Johan Momsen | Lock | Paarl Gim | WP | Craven Week |
| 26 | JD Schickerling | Lock | Paarl Gim | WP | SA Schools |
| 27 | Rickus Bothma | No.8 | Paarl Gim | WP | SA Schools |
| 28 | Brendon Nell | Scrumhalf | Paarl Gim | WP | WP u18 |
| 29 | Daniel du Plessis | Centre | Paul Roos | WP | SA Schools |
| 30 | Christo van der Merwe | Flank | Paul Roos | WP | |
| 31 | Joel Heugh | Wing | Paul Roos | WP | |
| 32 | Pieter Rossouw | Wing | Paul Roos | WP | |
| 33 | Khanyo Ngcukana | Fullback | Rondebosch | WP | Craven Week |
| 34 | Graham Geldenhuys | Lock | Rondebosch | WP | |
| 35 | Brett Paulse | Prop | Rondebosch | WP | WP u18 |
| 36 | Luke Stringer | Lock | Rondebosch | WP | |
| 37 | Kyle Whyte | Prop | Rondebosch | WP | |
| 38 | Thabani Mtsi | Prop | Selborne College | Border | SA Schools |
| 39 | David Ribbans | Somerset College | WP | ||
| 40 | Justin Phillips | Scrumhalf | Waterkloof | Bulls | SA Schools |
| 41 | FP Pelser | Lock | Witteberg | Griffons | Craven Week |
| 42 | Jarryd Sage | Centre | Wynberg | WP | Craven Week |
| 43 | Siya Alam | Flyhalf | Wynberg | WP | Craven Week |
@Far Meadows:
Ah right he’s been injured so long I forgot about him.
@vatikaki: What has happened to Pat Howard ?
@vatikaki: let us be a judge of that-if you are a doos or not
In other news. Purpose of my visit to this article was to have a look at what sort of depth we have across the Province sides, and….
The Currie Cup side definitely isn’t looking very competitive.
Leaving out probable Springboks (and ignoring U21’s apart from Kolbe) you’re looking at:
Props – Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Oliver Kebble, Alistair Vermaak
Hookers – Tiaan Liebenberg, Siyabonga Ntubeni, Stephan Coetzee
Locks – Rynhardt Elstadt, Michael Rhodes, De Kock Steenkamp, Gerbrandt Grobler, Manuel Carizza, Ruan Botha, Tazz Fuzani
Loose-Forwards – Rohan Kitshoff, Nizaam Carr (and we’ll probably see one of the U21’s Jurie van Vuuren or Sikhumbuzo Notshe here)
Scrumhalves – Nic Groom, Louis Schreuder, Dylon Frylinck
Flyhalves – Demetri Catrakilis, Kurt Coleman, Dillyn Leyds
Wingers – Cheslin Kolbe, Devon Williams
Centres – Kobus van Wyk, Juan de Jongh, Michael van der Spuy
Fullback – Jaco Taute
Leaving: Deon Fourie, Brok Harris, Pat Cilliers, Martin Dreyer (Boland player), Peter Grant, Sailosi Tagicakibau (returning to London Irish) & Gio Aplon.
Might even see Entienne Swanepoel as the reserve tighthead before long.
@Andre T:
Ag meine het gegaan vir iets wat lyk soos ‘n hillbilly (mens kry mos klomp van hulle in Australie). Ek glo sys gemaklik met die ou want sy weet hy gaan nooit beter doen nie!
Die Afrikaanse meisies hierso (en daar’s klomp van hulle) wat ek al geontmoet het doen dit ook nie rerig vir my nie. En ek nie vir hulle
. My sister het ‘n goeie filosofie hieroor. Sy se ‘n meisie soek ‘n ‘bad boy’ wat goed optree vir haar. My probleem is ek is nie geprogrammeer om ‘n doos te wees nie 
“Treat’em mean, keep’em keen”
@Andre T:
Ja ek kort een.
Het gedink ek het ‘n lekker meisie gehad… toe gaan sy op een van daai contiki tours en toe ek my oë blink toe trek sy Australië toe vir ‘n ou wat sy op die toer ontmoet het. Goeie 4 jaar gemors
Dink ek moet maar liewer ‘n Afrikaanse meisie kom ontmoet. Dink nie die Kiwi’s is vir my nie
@vatikaki: Shaun is with the SA Sevens setup now.
Another KZN Schools youngster Josh Moon from Michaelhouse, who joined the WPRI over the weekend also made his Sevens debut over the weekend.
@vatikaki: Lyk my jys hewiglik verveeld ou maat. Kry vir jou n mik en vat haar Fonteine toe.
@Grasshopper:
Found myself scrolling through some old posts.
What ever happened to Shaun Adendorff?
Last I heard the Bulls weren’t interested in retaining him so he signed a contract to play Sevens – although not seeing much game-time there either.
Sorry GrassHopper, but it’s only of those “I told you so” moments.
Watched this entire JWC, and Adendorff made the list for IRB JWC Player of the Year because of a handful of good ball carries, not because of being a good openside flanker unfortunately.
@McCulleys Workshop:
It’s going to take a bit of time for Neymat and Messi to link up….both showed some promising signs against Valencia….but our defence is rotten though….
@Muzi: You enjoying the addition of Neymar? Barca are looking cracker this year.
@Muzi: I am not sure, but my best guess is that Bulls offered him more than the standard contract WP can offer.
@BoishaaiPa:
Why did’n’t Burger van Niekerk sign with WP……?
@BoishaaiPa:
Hi, thanks for the heads up……..I had a feeling the Bulls would lose William or Swanepoel ditto Janse van Rensburg and Venter…..you simply can’t sign all the SA schools centres every year….Small Smith struggled with injuries massive loss for the Bulls he’s a great leader though.
@Muzi: Small-Smith is lost to the Bulls..Did not renew his contract. Watch this space..all I am saying is that Beet will not be to unhappy in the near future!
@vatikaki: ok then, is that because he is a Glenwood Old Boy. Was our best forward in the Under20 World Cup 2012, but is overrated….hmmmm, ok. Luckily teams are not picked by bloggers. Yes he is small but you cannot buy heart and guts which he has in abundance. He reminds me of the Aussie Hooper….
@Woltrui:
Barca supporter but I’ve always been a Ramsey fan ever since I saw him as a 17-year-old in 2008….it’s going to be Arteta,Ramsey and Ozil…Carzola will be at wing.
Affirmatif. Lekker man,
@Muzi: Gunners supporter Muzi? With midfield players like Ozel, Wilshire, Arteta, Ramsey and attacking midfielders like Podolsky and Santi Gazolo, who knows who will be left on the bench? Suppose the game plan would play a major role. Can’t see Wenge leaving Arteta on the bench though. The man has a lot of class. The Gunners is one striker short of a European Championship team.
@vatikaki: I agree with the 7 flank !! I feel the same re Andrew too !!
I am sounding like a broken record but I have to admit that the comments about Visser and Herbst are correct ! I have only seen them at the JWC so maybe I’m not being objective.
@Woltrui:
Concerning Ozil great signing for the Gooners……who’s going to warm the bench….Wilshere or Arteta…Aaron Ramsey deserves to keep his spot that welsh dragon has a superb engine a times he plays like an offensive minded Roy Keane….glad his over his leg break.
@beet:
…I haven’t changed my opinion at all about Andrew IMHO he’s average….he was shocking against the “big boys” in the JWC.
People made such a big fuss about Beerwinkel dominating Maks van Dyk
@vatikaki:
Bulls supporters including me are so fed up with the Paige and Snyman…..we want Rudi van Rooyen to get a fair chance at scrumhalf.
William Small Smith and Dries Swanepoel have been training with the senior squad……wouldn’t be surprised if both players don’t to see eye to eye…..they are competing with each other.
@Muzi: a big surprise to many at the Sharks vs Bulls u21 game a few weeks back was to see Beerwinkel come out on top against Maks van Dyk. Maks was however out injured a week later. Maybe that injury had something to do with the poor scrumming performance
@BuffelsCM:
In no way arguing whether he’ll be the best flanker available to the U21 side next year…
But it will probably benefit him and both sides if he focuses on the U19 side, and is available for the U21’s when required.
The Bulls have got the right idea… When Jacques Rossouw goes down injured, they promote Jesse Kriel from the U19 side, although Jesse is clearly the superior player. Why sideline Rossouw though, and have a guy who isn’t nearly as good as either starting for the U19’s?
Shaun has worked hard …a few years ago no one gave him a chance to make the grade at the Bulls…..he replaced Nardus vD Walt in the under 19 side.
Who actually thought the bloke would be a baby bok..give the young man some credit.
@Muzi:
Shaun Adendorff… IMO extremely overrated, although the Blue Bulls will be blamed for not furthering his ‘development’.
@vatikaki:
I watched Botha from the cheetahs under 21’s bully Beerwinkel and Forwood in the scrums….Bulls under 21’s have a vulnerable tight five this year.
It’s a pity Neethling Fouche is out injured again….still not convinced with Visser and Herbst.
At times we are relying on Roloef Smit,Shaun Adendorff and Dries Swanepoel and the boot of Kobus Marais.
@Woltrui:
Dewald Human and Kurt Webster i thought that Bolze bloke was signed as an inside cenre?!?!
@beet: Hi Beet, I’m with you on Vermeulen: last year he was picked at 7 for WP Craven side while still in grade 11 and Luke v d Smit was captain of the Academy side. Luke is a good player but not in the class of Vermeulen IMO.
It might still be a good idea not to rush him into the U/21 side immediately though. He’ll obviously spend a lot more time on conditioning next year and who knows where he’ll end up
@vatikaki: It might be better to draw the comparison with Jacques du Plessis of the Bulls or PSDT of the Sharks who both tasted u21 action while still under 19.
Benn is very much a no.8. Last year he looked like he still had to fill out a bit. For Carel du Preez, well I guess it’s the beauty of the juniors, anything can happen. The guy you did not put bucks on leaves the much talked about SBR star in his tracks. Look at Elstadt vs Koster or Stander vs Kleynhans or Arno Botha vs Lean Schwartz etc. So no point suggesting he will play second fiddle to anyone.
Notshe is a guy one just naturally expects to get given chances and with the new Vodacom Cup rules guys like him and Jurie vV being forwards are that much more valuable.
@beet:
Just thinking because…
Notshe has also been earmarked for the future somewhat and was part of the Stormers training squad this year
Carel du Preez has been a star for Western Province this season in all the teams he’s played…
and Justin Benn was WP U19 Forward of the Year and very nearly made his Currie Cup debut last season.
While I don’t disagree about Vermeulen, I think there’s no point rushing a player through unless you’ve got very little depth in the U21 squad.
It would be the equivalent of the Bulls making Pierre Schoeman their starting loosehead for the U21’s right now… No point considering they have talented players available in the position at U21 level so no point having your better players sit behind an U19.
It’d be a different story if your 2 best age-grade players in a position were both U19 of course.
@vatikaki: I don’t want to place undue pressure on Vermeulen but for now in terms of potential, Jacques has the one up on all of those guys as a big blindside flank except maybe van Der Smit who I have not seen play.
@beet:
Have my doubts as to whether they’ll rush Vermeulen through.
Too many talented loose-forwards available to WP U-21’s next season to justify having to take players from the U-19’s.
Current U20 loose-forwards who will be U21 next year
6 Eital Bredenkamp
7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe / Jurie van Vuuren
8 Carel du Preez / Justin Benn
And then you have to add in their current U19’s…
6 Gareth de Bruin / Ruan Rossouw / Johan de Villiers / Attie van Rensburg
7 Luke van der Smit
8 Steven Meiring / Josh Moon / Devon Nash
@Ludz: Thanks Ludz. I saw Bolze play against Dale. Looked like a cool customer. Strongly build with a good boot. Isn’t his father the coach of Queens?
@Woltrui: I do know 1 flyhalf is Simon Bolze, captain of Queen’s 1st XV this year.
@gimmie: Shhhhhh moet nie nou al ons kennis uitdeel nie. Jy wil nie he Affies/Grey Bloem moet noual koue voete kry vir 2014 nie.
@beet: Will be a surprise if WP dont call up now in 2013 some of these players for the u19 CC.
@Muzi: Dis reg hy het nie n goeie cravenweek gehad nie.Fantastiese hande teen Paarl Gym in nat omstandighede gehad.Ook Tony Stoops man of the match gekry in wedstryd teen Gym.Sal sien hoe hulle gebruik gaan word volgende jaar.
Vermeulen might also get promoted to u21 early on which could free up a spot on the side of the scrum for one of the no.8s
David Ribbans is a lock.
The no.8 battle will be a good one. I’m not writing off Jacobs. He is a classic no8. His positional play is excellent and he has good height.
Koen is explosive off the base and powerful in contact. He can give his team good front-foot ball to work with. He has to work on his linking and fielding of balls at the back but that is what the WPRI is there for. To develop skills.
Why have Koen and Bothma?? They are like for like players, playing the same type of game, where is the balance…
Koen is not good on the ground, nor is Vermuelen, they are essentially all ball running players – would prefer to see Koen at the Lions or Cheetahs, it would be better for our rugby.
If we start developing a soccer style recruitment, many players will fall by the wayside as they will simply not get game time. Anyway, what’s done is done, but think it silly to have both 8’s at the same province
@Ploegskaar:
Sjoe…forgot to mention Wilco Louw in that list…..
@wakker akker:
Thanks for the heads up….Koen is a machine though but he needs to improve his ball handling skills…wasn’t pretty to watch at the craven week tournament.
Uitstekende groep met hope potensiaal. Uiteindelik het WP hu beste talent gehou. Die Pollard glips het seker ingeskop. Sien uit na die toekoms met so ‘n groep.
@Ploegskaar:
Handre Pollard is already playing with the “big boys” in the currie cup that lad is way toooo good for under 19 rugby…. :mrgreen:……WP supporters were up in arms after finding out about his move to the Bulls. 
Our multi dimensional starlet
Jean-Luc Du Plessis can jol but where will he play in the next few years….Sharkies have Fred,Bambie and young Du Preez.
It looks like the lads from the western cape,Duncan Matthews,Arno van Wyk,Keagon Gordon,Leighton van Wyk,Corne Cooper and Justin Basson have been playing really very well happy for them.
It’s such a pity Joshua Stander is injured Paul Anthony needs another pivot….Kobus Marais is with the under 21 side.
@Woltrui:
Hi, those two kloffies props…Johan van Wyk and Xander van Wyk will be staying with the Bulls.
Francois Steyn was already signed two years ago……might be difficult to get Centurion High School captain and hooker Vean Roodt he has a junior cub lions contract.
I’d like the Bulls to push RG Snyman in the vodacom cup squad and coach Nollis Under 21 side….I agree concerning Burger van Niekerk he was a beast against the Bulls in Polokwane perhaps he could form a combination with Hyron Andrews.
Abongile Nonkontwana and Johan du Toit have potential to be very good blind side flanks IMHO.
Eish just remembered I need to add WP Eloff to the FS list
@Woltrui: Van Wyks both signed up by the Bulls
@gimmie: Dankie Gimmie. Van wat ek gesien het is die Vd Berg seun flippin goed. Hoop dan ons (Affies) gee julle weer ‘n mis volgende jaar
Woltrui, Gim se loskop, Gavin Vd berg is in Graad 11. Hy het ongelooflike potensiaal. Gim het 2 Craven Week en 2 akedemie week spelers in Graad 11.Gim gaan weer baie sterk wees in 2014. 9 Graad 11’s was gereeld in match 22.
@Muzi: Musi Burger van Niekerk in combo with RG Snyman can be a Mother of a lock combination. Hopefully the Bulls also signed the Van Wyk props from Kloof and the 2 BB CW hookers. Potent front 5. You don’t have info on which flyhalf’s were signed by the Bulls?
Die no 1 van Paarl Gim, wie teen Boishaai gespeel het(weet ongelukkig nie wat sy naam is), nie in die groep? Kan dalk ‘n goeie aanwins vir ‘n ander provinsie word.
@Muzi: Jy het dit heeltemal verkeerd.Koen was deur Bulle se Xander genader al aan begin van jaar.Hy was oppad maar het later die jaar besluit dat die Wp vir hom op hierdie stadium die beste roep is.
@Ploegskaar: hehe tjekboek
Vissie het dit toe nie gemaak vir die laaste 60 nie. Het hy dan nie op laerskool haker gespeel nie?
Jy praat nou seker van die Boland-manne: skrumskakel lyk goed, so ook die vaskop en 2 vleuels. Die ander Boland-manne is nie deur nie alhoewel die losskakel en senter heel skaflik vertoon het.
Daar kom 3 senters by Maandag en ek is nogal nuuskierig om hulle te sien.
Paul Roos en Gim het beste losskakels gehad maar daar kom een van Bishops ook by. Die vleuels het nogal gas: Van Zyl van Gim, Johannes van HJS, Momberg van Paul Roos en Fourie van Wynberg – lg sterk hardloper.
Ek praat more verder – moet ongelukkig nou groet
@BuffelsCM: Soos met Attie, sou ek graag vir De Wet Visser van S’Berg ook eerder van stut na haker wou skuif, blok van ‘n seun maar lekker mobiel. Enige ander spelers wat uitgestaan het, en het jy jou clipboard en tjekboek byderhand gehad
@Ploegskaar: Ja hy is nie baie lank nie maar so sterk soos ‘n bees!!
Die probleem is dat daar Maandag 2 agstemanne bykom van Boys’ High (Khanya Ncusane – hy is huge!!) en ek dink van Paarl Gim. Jy is reg – ek glo ook sy heil is op 2! Die hakers is bietjie dun behalwe die outjie van Boys’ High.
@BuffelsCM:
Soos jy sou sien het hy meer sywaarts as opwaarts gegroei en dis nie Spurspiere, magtig hy’s ‘n soliede blok van ‘n laatie. Volgende jaar kan Boland hom nog op 8 gebruik, maar daarna le sy heil op 2, al knerts hy nog 5cm uit. Toekomstige WP en SA skole haker daai, soos Farmer van Tygerberg, as lg. se voete op die grond bly.
@beet: yes Beet the big one that got away (to the Sharks), surely is Thomas du Toit.
This year WP only took in 35 new boys – 15 stayed behind from last year. With 43 boys – and admittedly a stronger group – things are looking better for Province in 2014!
7 locks and 5 props, 4 scrummies and 4 flyhalves: that seems to be a bit excessive.
I have to agree with Muzi that quite a few will not play for Province next year!
@Ploegskaar: Yes Ploegie I’m still uncertain about HL – at this stage I’ll prefer Koen
Ploegie ek sien Attie is vanaf 8 na haker geskuif vir Maandag se laaste rondte proewe vir die O/15-groep van WP
@Muzi: But they have an eye for the good Landbou ones, see the 3 2012 boys are doing well in the u19 team….
@Muzi: JL Doop was considered the biggest loss, and as I found out Monday, not only by me…. And no, they did not splash or offered more money, just more opportunities. Play here and you can be the next Kitshoff, Kolisi or Kolbe, goukyk
@Muzi: Man, every time you say you rate that boy I think WTF am I missing. Anyway, you take the Donkey, I’ll have the Koen Rocket, and Vermeulen, and Bothma, and and and. Man the arses must be burning up there, how do you draw boys if you only have money as a draw card and that’s no longer enough to attract the best? Or worse, when you run out of money? Welcome to pro-SBR phase two boys….
Rob Wagner and Theo Wakefield were so gatvol after that whole Handre Pollard drama hence why they enough is enough so they decided to splash the cash.
@beet:
Well after the mass exodus…..I guess we’ve decided to cut costs from our budget in the junior structures.
I’d really like to know why Burger van Niekerk decided to move to loftus….Bulls hardly sign players from Boishaai.
@Muzi: Oh so now the Bulls only sign one quality player per position???
@beet:
Hanro Liebenberg is the reason why Xander didn’t sign Koen….
Stockpiling…some of these players will not even run out at newlands.
Another surprise has to be Monnas’ Wiehan Jacobs. I think he has some potential but also has his work cut out for him now with Bothma and Koen there.
The biggest surprise for me on this list was not Matt Reece-Edwards, who I heard about a few weeks back in a mention that connected his decision to that of his father falling out of coaching favour at Kings Park (for now at least). Hugh has been there and done that and left back in 2000 following the Super 12 season, which admittedly many of us Sharks fans have either or are still trying to wipe from our memory banks. At least we won something that year be it a wooden spoon.
Anyway not sure if this is true but that was the speculation for young R-E not joining the Sharks. And one has to say that the Sharks is a favourable 2014 destination for backline players looking for a big break, with the Union focusing on contracting forwards.
After that big sidetrack, the big surprise to me is Dian Koen, who had left Hermanus to join the Kwaggas and I always just assumed that the Bulls were behind this transfer and that Dian was Pretoria bound. He does fit the profile of a Bulls type player and there is a CJ Stander style about him.
@Ploegskaar: C’mon Ploegie
What about Thomas du Toit
and for that matter Dante vd Merwe
I’m also keen to hear about Gareth Cilliers’ plans. He seems to have been highly rated by the folks down south.
@Grasshopper: @Amalekite: I actually wanted to do a blog on their poor strike rate.
@Amalekite: agreed, highly embarrassing for the Sharks Academy and KERF. They should be contracted if they accept. Sharks Academy probably don’t care, more money for them…
Interesting to see one KZN boy – Reece-Edwards. This was the player that the Sharks Academy thought so highly of, that they awarded him a scholarship at the KERF. They were only meant to hand out 3, but because he was so good they handed out a 4th.
Another one was awarded to Rickus Bothma of Paarl Gim.
This is not the first time that recepients of a Sharks Academy scholarship have decided to go elsewhere……embarrassing.
I wonder who those 2 scholarships will go to now……
Nice to see that the WP Institute has targeted a lot of their local talent.
Overkill yes, but bar Matthys Basson who signed with Bulls and TJ Goddard who signed with the Cheetahs, the best were scooped. Also, get used to some lesser known names on the list every year, they were in the system but could not play WP rep rugby for various often discussed reasons. Well done Oom Hennie and co., and lastly, well done Stella Happy Feet Buhr
Looks very good, but surely this will be halved. Can’t imagine WP wanting to pay that many untried players…