Western Province aims to reclaim Currie Cup glory without their top players
Image: BackpagePix
Western Province is dead-set on righting the wrongs of last season's Currie Cup as they look to establish a more settled squad throughout the tournament this year.
Their senior United Rugby Championship (URC) players won't be involved in the competition as they start preparations for the new European season. Still, the Cape side will look for a settled squad that can take them far in the competition after limited success last year that had supporters in the Mother City worried.
A marker will be laid on Saturday and the coaches will see exactly where the team is when they face the Bulls at the DHL Stadium in the Currie Cup opener.
Plenty of hard work being put in in by the DHL WP coaches and their extended squad as we keep building towards the Carling Currie Cup. 🔵⚪️ #wpjoulekkerding pic.twitter.com/aVR6h2jHuu — WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) July 3, 2025
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Forwards coach Brok Harris confirmed they will not have players going in and out of the team, while they've also tapped into the WP club rugby system to test some promising amateur players. Those players will be committed to WP for the duration of the competition.
'The club players we identified will be part of the entire campaign; it won't be a thing of in and out or a two-week kind of thing,' according to Harris.
'They've worked hard and have been pushing even for guys who don't have a contract. There is a possibility for them to play for contracts even. There is a lot at stake. We have the likes of Carlo van Greunen (a lock from Paarl), Brendan Venter and Erhard Lambrecht (both Helderberg), and De Wet Marais.'
The Carling #CurrieCup wall of champions keeps changing.
Four years. Four different winners.
Who claims it in 2025?#WhereChampionsRise | #PremierRugbyRealPassion pic.twitter.com/QhZ7bquPwL — The Carling Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) July 21, 2025
Harris added that they are bracing for a massive game against the Bulls. Of course, he will be in the coaching box this time, but he recalled his debut in the North-South derby back in 2006.
'You think inter-varsity is big, but then you get to the North-South derby in the Currie Cup, and you find you don't get bigger than that. It was next level. For these guys, it will be a great experience.
'It will be challenging playing against old Stormers like Nama Xaba (Bulls captain), Junior (Pokomela, flanker), Marvin (Orie, lock), and Lizo (Gqoboka, prop). There are a couple of them who have been in our environment. However, we can only control what we can and stick to what we've been training.
'We look forward to the challenge they will bring. This season, we will keep on fighting for the jersey, whatever comes our way. We will go out there and give it our best.'
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