As the 2014 Vodacom Super Rugby season comes to and end for the DHL Stormers this weekend, Western Province’s best young players will begin their new Absa Provincial Under-19 and Under-21 campaigns in Cape Town on Saturday.

Both teams will be in action at City Park against Free State this Saturday, as DHL WP set about retaining the Provincial Under-19 level they last won in 2012 and, course, the Under-21s look to defend the title they won in such fine style last year.

Lock JD Schickerling and loose forward Jacques Vermeulen – key men for the SA Under-20s in New Zealand last month – are both still eligible for the WP U19 team this season, whilst the likes of Sti Sithole, Michael Willemse, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Kyle Lombard (to name just a few) were part of last year’s cup-winning Under-21 team and could be back for more in 2014.

The DHL WP junior teams are both at home again next weekend – July 19, v the Leopards, at City Park – before they travel away on July 26 to face the Sharks in Durban.

The first weekend of August will see the WP Under-19 and Under-21 teams both enjoy a bye, before the Under-19s take on the Kings and the Under-21s take on Border the following weekend.

Looking ahead to the new season, DHL WP Under-21 coach John Dobson told www.wprugby.com: “Last year was obviously a big moment for us and winning the title was pleasing for us as a coaching team.

“Whilst we do have a few players returning this year we can’t rely on anything we achieved last season. It’s a new season and a new campaign… it’s not about defending our title, but rather about going out there to win the title.”

Fixtures for Saturday, July 12 (both matches to be played at City Park):
13h30: DHL WP Under-19 v Free State Under-19
15h30: DHL WP Under-21 v Free State Under-21

* CLICK HERE for the 2014 Provincial Under-19 fixtures or CLICK HERE for the 2014 Provincial Under-21 fixtures.