Former Junior Springbok captain extends Stormers stay

The contract extension cements the 22-year-old's place at the heart of Cape Town's rugby ambitions as he continues his rapid rise through the senior ranks.

De Villiers, a former Junior Springbok and Western Province U21 captain, has emerged as one of the standout performers of the 2025 season. Thrust into the openside role following Deon Fourie's injury, he has handled the responsibility with composure and consistency.

His tireless work-rate, sharp breakdown instincts and ability to carry effectively have made him one of the most influential figures in the Stormers' forward pack. That impact has helped drive the team to five consecutive victories in the United Rugby Championship campaign.

Having guided the WP U21 side to back-to-back national titles in 2024, De Villiers transitioned seamlessly into senior rugby. His elevation has been viewed as a strong endorsement of the Stormers' development system.

Director of Rugby John Dobson described the long-term retention of De Villiers as a major stride for the franchise.

"Paul has exceeded our expectations this year and has established himself as a key member of our team," said Dobson.

"He is extremely coachable, with a solid head on his shoulders and the way he goes about things on the pitch makes him invaluable to us.

"He was identified as a leader from a young age and the way he interacts with the senior players shows that he is keen to keep learning and developing his game.

"Paul's growth within our system shows how our pathway structure is working and having a player with his attributes is key to our game model."

De Villiers says the environment in Cape Town has given him both confidence and direction.

"Being backed by the coaches and fellow players is probably what boosts you the most," said the loose forward.

"It gives you confidence and helps you to focus on what's important. That is something that I have felt this season and with that obviously comes the responsibility to back it up.

"We have a really good balance between senior players and younger players coming through, which excites me for the future. I really believe that in the years to come we will only get stronger."