Riversdale brothers make their mark on South African rugby

SPORT NEWS - Former Outeniqua Primary School learner Paul de Villiers has taken to the international stage with an impressive start to his Spring-bok career, while his younger brother, Jacobus, continues to establish himself as one of South Africa's top schoolboy rugby prospects.

These Riversdale brothers are following similar paths, both earning recognition through Oakdale and the DHL Stormers rugby system.

At just 23, Paul recently made his Springbok test debut after being called into the starting line-up as a late replacement for injured captain Siya Kolisi in South Africa's opening Nations Championship clash against England at Ellis Park. The loose forward delivered a standout performance as the Boks secured a 45-21 victory.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus retained his faith in De Villiers, selecting him again as flank for South Africa's 42-28 win over Scotland at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. He had also featured from the bench in the Springboks' non-test match against the Barbarians before making his official test debut.

During a media briefing after the victory over Scotland, Paul said it felt good to contribute to the team. Being out on the field has been the biggest factor in making him feel more comfortable and increasing his confidence.

While he is making headlines on an international level, young Jacobus is rapidly emerging as one of the country's leading schoolboy forwards. This Oakdale loose forward captained SWD at this year's Craven Week and has been selected for the SA Schools team for a second consecutive year.

Jacobus de Villiers. Photo: Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale

Jacobus has also signed to join the DHL Stormers Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch in 2027. This full-time, high-performance programme is regarded as one of South Africa's premier pathways into professional rugby, combining elite coaching with academic support to bridge the gap between schoolboy and professional rugby. Several graduates have progressed to the Junior Springboks and the DHL Stormers.

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