Paul de Villiers' refreshing response to Siya Kolisi's return
SPOTLIGTHT: Stormers breakout star Paul de Villiers is embracing the arrival of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi in Cape Town next season, viewing it not as a threat to his position but as a priceless opportunity to learn from one of South Africa’s greatest loose forwards.
The 23-year-old flank, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the United Rugby Championship, is set to make his senior international debut this weekend against the Barbarians in Gqeberha.
De Villiers was one of the revelations of the Stormers’ season, establishing himself as one of the most effective openside flankers in the competition. His relentless work rate, breakdown expertise and defensive consistency saw him finish the campaign with 19 turnovers, 209 tackles, seven tries and four consecutive Player of the Match awards.
Next season, however, he will have one of the biggest names in world rugby competing for the same jersey after Kolisi’s return to the Stormers was confirmed.
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Stormers star looking forward to his first outing in the Green and Goldhttps://t.co/qGO4F5j2O7
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) June 15, 2026
Rather than seeing the Springbok captain’s arrival as a challenge, De Villiers believes it will accelerate his own growth as a player.
“It is another opportunity to learn,” De Villiers told Rugby365 on Monday during a press briefing in Johannesburg.
“He is a great player and a great captain. It is a big opportunity to learn from his game, but also from his leadership.
“Competition is always good, especially in your position.”
The young forward said his focus is not on the battle for selection, but on absorbing as much knowledge as possible from a double World Cup-winning captain.
“My focus is on what I can gain from it. He is a great person, a very nice guy, and I am really looking forward to playing with him at the Stormers and seeing what I can learn from him.”
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The maturity of De Villiers’ response is perhaps unsurprising given the way he has handled his rapid rise over the past 12 months. Having gone from promising prospect to one of the Stormers’ most influential forwards, he now finds himself on the verge of his first senior international appearance.
While De Villiers is making headlines in professional rugby, the family name continues to make waves at schoolboy level too.
Asked who the better player is between himself and younger brother Jacobus, the Stormers flank answered without hesitation: “My brother.”
Jacobus has emerged as one of South Africa’s most highly rated schoolboy talents after an outstanding season for Oakdale, where the powerful No.8 has built a reputation for his athleticism, physicality and rugby intelligence.
For now, though, all eyes are on Paul as he prepares for what could be the first chapter of an international career – and the chance to learn from one of the game’s most influential leaders when Kolisi returns to Cape Town.
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