Both DHL Western Province U19 and DHL Western Province U21 have qualified for the play-offs of their respective national tournaments.

As defending champions, DHL Western Province U21 have had a big weight of expectation and have been impressive in their title defence, winning seven of their 10 matches to finish the league phase of the season in second place.

That has seen them secure a home semifinal against Vodacom Bulls U21 at City Park on Saturday. The starting XV selected features 12 players who played in the Carling Currie Cup for the senior side this season, which illustrates the depth of the talent pool in that group.

DHL Western Province U19 finished in third place, having won three of their five games in the league phase, with two of those away from home as well. They travel up to Johannesburg to take on the Fidelity ADT Lions U19 in their semifinal.

They will go into that game without seven U19 players in JC Mars, Kyle Smith, Gino Cupido, Wandile Mlaba, Divan Fuller, Herman Lubbe and Xola Nyali, who have all been selected to play for DHL Western Province U21 instead.

This shows just how much talent there is in this age-group, which will feed into the senior squad in the years to come.

The achievements of both these groups this season underline the strength of the pathways programme at Stormers Rugby, which keeps producing top talent and bringing through nthe best players from the region.