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| Full name | Western Province | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Western Province Rugby Football Union | ||
| Nickname(s) | Province, Die Streeptruie and WP | ||
| Emblem(s) | Disa uniflora or Red Disa | ||
| Founded | 1883 | ||
| Location | Cape Town, South Africa | ||
| Region | Western Cape, South Africa | ||
| Ground(s) | Cape Town Stadium (Capacity: 55,000) | ||
| Coach(es) | John Dobson | ||
| Captain(s) | Ernst van Rhyn | ||
| League(s) | Currie Cup | ||
| 2022 | Finals: DNQ 6th on log | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www | |||
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Rugby_football_current_event.svg){kind=small} Current season | |||
Western Province (known for sponsorship reasons as DHL Western Province) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Newlands, Cape Town, that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments. Founded in 1883, the team has won multiple titles, a record of 34 Currie Cup titles including the inaugural competition, the Vodacom Cup, the Absa Nite Series, and the Lion Cup.
The club is nicknamed Die Streeptruie ("The Striped Jerseys" in Afrikaans) in reference to their legendary blue and white hooped jerseys. These Striped Jerseys were the colours of Malmesbury Rugby Football Club, established in 1881. They are also known simply as "Province" by all South African rugby lovers, while Afrikaans-speaking supporters also refer to the team by its abbreviation, W.P. (pronounced: "vee pee" ["ee" as in "beer"]).
Another accomplishment of Western Province, which no South African team has ever been able to match, is the double victories over the All Blacks the first being (10–3) played on 15 August 1928 and again (12–11) on 16 July 1976, while several countries have never been able to beat the All Black team, Province managed this feat. In 2010 province again did a remarkable victory over all of New Zealand's five super unions, this was the first and only time such an accomplishment has been achieved. Province has also beaten the Wallabies 17–6 in a thrilling encounter in 1963. Province has also drawn to other countries including England in 1984 with a score of 15 all, however province has beaten the British and Irish Lions numerous times, including three times in 1903 and won another match in 1924, the match then had been regarded as "test" status. The only two teams to have beaten overseas countries as well as combination teams (Lions) are yet again the Blue Bulls and Western Province.
Since 1983 Western Province has been sponsored by Adidas, in 2013 this will mark the 30th Anniversary of the sponsorship and the 130th anniversary of the team itself. In 1983 Province launched their centenary jersey of which 50 only ever came into existence, but this is not the rarest province top, the rarest being a complete maroon kit of which only 15 were ever made, this team played under the WP Presidents XV. The maroon jersey along with the centenary jersey as well as the original Stormers orange tops are the three most sought after Province and or Stormers tops.
Team sponsor DHL has officially renewed their sponsorship with Western Province until 2016, following an emphatic 2012 season.
Boland falls within the Western Province and combines with Boland Cavaliers to compete as the DHL Stormers in the United Rugby Championship competition.