It has been an unforgettable week for the De Villiers family. Over the weekend, 23-year-old Stormers flanker Paul de Villiers received a late, high-pressure call-up to replace the injured Siya Kolisi, debuting as Springbok #954 and producing a masterclass performance against England.
But elite rugby talent clearly runs in the family. While Paul prepares to retain the number 6 jersey against Scotland this Saturday, his younger brother, Jacobus de Villiers, is busy making serious waves of his own at the ongoing Craven Week tournament.
The Stormers Secure a Monster No. 8
Jacobus has officially signed his first professional provincial contract with the DHL Stormers, ensuring he will soon join his older brother in Cape Town.
Currently completing his matric year at the renowned rugby factory Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale, the teenage sensation brings an incredibly dominant profile to the professional ranks:
- Physical Demeanor: Standing at a towering 1.87m and clearing the scales at over 100kg, Jacobus is built for modern frontline collisions.
- The Skillset: Already captaining his SWD Craven Week side, he is widely praised for his destructive ball-carrying, elite breakdown work, and robust leadership.
- National Radar: He has already been integrated into the South African structures, featuring prominently for the SA U18 squad and the Junior Springboks.
Fueling Stormers’ “Project 2029”
Jacobus is the marquee signature among 13 elite schoolboy prodigies across South Africa locked in to join the Stormers Rugby Institute in 2027.
Stormers Director of Rugby, John Dobson, noted that securing the “cream of the crop” like the younger De Villiers brother is vital to sustaining the franchise’s global ambitions:
“We have carefully selected this group, so we have full faith in these players who have decided to start their professional journey with us… as we plan for the future and look to build a squad profile to help us compete with the best in the world.” — John Dobson
A Proud Oakdale Tradition
The De Villiers brothers are firmly cementing Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale’s status as a premier conveyor belt for international talent. Paul officially became the fifth Springbok produced by the Riversdale institution, joining an elite club:
| Oakdale Springbok Alumni | Test Caps |
| Johann Muller | 24 Caps |
| Pedrie Wannenburg | 20 Caps |
| Meyer Bosman | 3 Caps |
| JC Janse van Rensburg | Credited Bok #847 |
| Paul de Villiers | 1 Cap (and counting) |
