Veteran Deon Fourie’s return on the cards as Western Province seek first Currie Cup win

Western Province could introduce several United Rugby Championship (URC) players over the next two weekends in the Currie Cup as they look to finish the competition on a high.

Veteran Deon Fourie (38) is among the senior players who may return as early as the Pumas duel on Saturday, as the Stormers’ coaching staff look to use WP’s final two Currie Cup matches, including the Cape derby against the Boland Cavaliers, to get key players match-fit ahead of their URC opener against Leinster on September 26 in the Mother City.

With the Pumas being one of the strongest teams in this season’s Currie Cup, the match offers an ideal opportunity for World Cup winner Fourie to ease back into action. He last played earlier this year against Connacht before sustaining a broken tibia that kept him out for over three months.

“I’m burning to get back onto the field,” Fourie said this week.

“I’m not far off from returning. We’re busy with our pre-season training, so we’ll see how things go. There are Currie Cup matches this weekend and next, and hopefully I can play in one of them.”

Facing his former Stormers teammate Willie Engelbrecht and the desperate Pumas in Cape Town could be a tough reintroduction, especially in what could be Fourie’s first game back after months on the sideline. Still, the veteran is eager to contribute and help Province secure their first win of the tournament.

WP currently sit at the bottom of the Currie Cup log, and based on their campaign so far, beating the Pumas might be a tall order.

If Fourie is selected, it will be interesting to see where he slots in. His understudy, Paul de Villiers, brought a fresh dynamic to the No 6 jersey in last weekend’s clash with the Sharks and is one of the young Stormers looking for additional game time before the URC season begins. Fourie is also capable at No 8 and can cover hooker if veteran Scarra Ntubeni is not selected.

Whatever direction the Cape side takes, giving senior players game time over the next two weeks will be crucial as they build towards their URC opener against the reigning champions.

Join us over at THE CLUTCH

For the latest breaking sporting news and insights from our veteran sports journalists visit our YouTube channel @theclutchza