SA Under-20 fullback Cheslin Kolbe has signed a long-term deal with Western Province Rugby, whilst flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis is back in the Cape for the 2013 Absa Currie Cup.
Kolbe, one of the most young exciting backline talents in the country, puts pen to paper on a three-year deal virtually at the same time as making his senior Absa Currie Cup debut against the Blue Bulls this past weekend.
Having already played a handful of senior matches at Vodacom Cup level, and also sitting on the bench for the DHL Stormers earlier in 2013, Kolbe’s development will be watched with keen interest as he continues the move from the junior provincial ranks to the senior side at Western Province.
“Cheslin is an exciting talent. We look forward to working with him and watching him grow even more here at WP,” DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee told www.wprugby.com.
“We’re pleased that he has committed to WP Rugby, he has already learnt a lot and will continue to learn from dedicated senior players like Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon.”
Meanwhile, the return of flyhalf Catrakilis for the 2013 Currie Cup tournament will add more depth to Western Province’s backs division this season.
Catrakilis, who spent the 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby season playing for the Kings, has played 34 matches for DHL Western Province, scoring 425 points in all. 136 of those points came in the 2012 Currie Cup – including a match-winning haul of 20 in last year’s final in Durban – and he also notched up 127 points during WP’s victorious 2012 Vodacom Cup campaign.
Said Coetzee: “Demetri impressed in Super Rugby for the Kings and with him wanting to play Premier Division rugby during the Currie Cup it made sense for him to come back to Cape Town.
“It’s great to have Demetri back. Our first priority is to ensure that he’s fit to play, following his shoulder injury, and we will look forward to reintroducing him into the squad when he is able to train fully.”