Young guns sign on at WP
Western Province have signed two SA Schools flyhalves, Pieter Jordaan (Free State) and Ryno Eksteen (Blue Bulls), with the duo set to further their rugby careers in Cape Town from the start of 2013.
Jordaan, the 2011 SA Schools flyhalf, and Eksteen, a current member of the SA Schools set-up, were both in action at the 2012 Craven Week tournament in Port Elizabeth and great things are expected of them in the future.
Eksteen was the leading points-scorer at the 2012 Craven Week and helped his team, the Blue Bulls, to victory in the unofficial final against the Golden Lions. Despite the treacherous conditions on the final day, Eksteen displayed an excellent amount of composure and control from the crucial flyhalf channel.
Jordaan, the younger brother of SA Sevens and Under-20 star Paul, has showed his value as a team man throughout 2012. He has been playing at centre for his school, Grey College, which saw him selected in the midfield at Craven Week and, ultimately, cost him another crack at SA Schools selection. However, he will be coming to the Cape as a flyhalf, first and foremost.
"We're very happy with the line-up of young players we have set to join the Institute next year – it's a talented bunch of players," said Jacques Hanekom, the head of the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch, who also confirmed that WP had secured the signature of No.8 Steven Meiring, who was a key man for the Bulls at Craven Week alongside flyhalf Eksteen.
Jordaan, Eksteen and Meiring will all be based at the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch from next year, as they take a step up in their 'rugby education', and Hanekom added: "All these players were in high demand across the country, so we're excited to have them coming to Cape Town and looking forward to developing their rugby even more."
Paarl Boys' High School scholar, Jean-Luc du Plessis, has opted to further his career in Durban with the Sharks – despite being offered a place at the WP Rugby Institute next year, as well as a WP contract – but the arrival of Jordaan and Eksteen, and the presence of Tim Swiel and Dillyn Leyds, means there will be plenty of talent competing for the coveted No 10 jersey in Cape Town in years to come.
Both Swiel and Leyds are still Under-20, but are currently key members of the DHL WP Under-21 team competing in their provincial competition.
Leyds played at fullback for the victorious SA Under-20 side in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship, but is more at home at flyhalf, whilst Swiel earned his SA Under-18 colours – at flyhalf – in 2011.
