The Stormers have locked down one of their brightest young stars through until at least 2029

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Dynamic loose forward Paul de Villiers has signed a contract extension that will keep him in the blue and white hoops for another four years.

The 22-year-old former Junior Boks captain has been one of the standout performers of the 2025 season, stepping seamlessly into the No 6 role during Deon Fourie’s injury absence.

Renowned for his high work-rate and impact at the breakdown, De Villiers has quickly become one of the most influential figures in the Stormers’ pack.

After leading the Western Province U21 side to back-to-back national titles in 2024, De Villiers has carried that form into senior rugby and played a significant role in the Stormers’ run of five consecutive URC victories this year.

Director of rugby John Dobson says retaining De Villiers long-term is a major moment for the union.

“Paul has exceeded our expectations this year and has established himself as a key member of our team. 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. 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.”