Flank Marcel Theunissen will captain DHL Western Province U21 in their first match of the season against Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 at Emirates Airline Park on Sunday.
The opening match of the SA Rugby U21 Championship will kick-off at 12h00 on Sunday and will be followed by an encounter between Toyota Free State U21 and Xerox Golden Lions U21.
The backline features Sevens star Angelo Davids, who made his DHL Stormers debut on Vodacom SuperFan Saturday and found himself playing almost a full game after Seabelo Senatla left the field with an early injury against the Emirates Lions.
Another player who featured for the DHL Stormers last week is No.8 Hannes Gouws, who will play alongside captain Theunissen and the hard-working De Wet Marais in the loose trio.
DHL Western Province U21 Head Coach Jerome Paarwater said that while the COVID-19 protocols have posed some unique challenges, the players are very excited to start the campaign.
“We are just so glad to be starting our season and the players cannot wait to get up there to show what we can do.
“We have got some exciting talents in this side, but the challenge will be to work together as a unit from the first game against what is always a tough Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 side,” he said.
DHL Western Province U21: 15 Sibabalwe Xamlashe, 14 Thoubaan Gabriels, 13 Juanre De Klerk, 12 Dan Aspeling, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 William Rose, 8 Hannes Gouws, 7 Marcel Theunissen (captain), 6 De Wet Marais, 5 Xavier Haupt, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Dandre Degenaar, 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Dian Bleuler. Replacements: 16 Joshua Muller, 17 Rynhardt Rijnsburger, 18 Damian Swartz, 19 Thys Kitshoff, 21 Luciano Elias, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Ryan Van Ster.