Vernon Paulo, the Stormers' newest hooker, made his mark by scoring a try in his debut during the Currie Cup's first week, indicating a promising start with his new team. Having transferred from the Cheetahs earlier in the year, the 25-year-old's childhood dreams materialized when he donned the Stormers jersey and made an immediate impact.
Born and bred in the Western Cape, Paulo has always held the Stormers in high regard, growing up idolizing the team. "Since I was a boy growing up in the Western Cape, it’s been a dream of mine to play for the Stormers; most of my childhood my role models were in the Stormers team," Paulo shared about his long-standing aspirations.
"I just want to make the jersey proud and the players and coaches that work with me proud, by being good at what I have to do."
Paulo, nicknamed 'Wardog' during his time with the Cheetahs, is known for his dynamic play, being equally effective in attack as in defense. His nickname stems from his relentless energy on the field, which he confidently carries into his new role at the Stormers.
With key players like Andre-Hugo Venter and JJ Kotze possibly being tied up with Springboks duties, Paulo sees a clear path to becoming a more integral part of the team. He is focused on maintaining consistency to secure his spot, emphasizing his readiness to step up whenever needed.
Turning his focus to the upcoming match against the Boland Cavaliers, Paulo is determined to help the Stormers avenge their pre-season defeat. "We don’t want to be the type of team where others think it’s going to be an easy game. We want to play a brand of rugby where people are going to notice us for our physicality, defence and attack," he stated, underlining the team's strategy to command respect through formidable gameplay.
As the Stormers gear up for their next challenges in both the Vodacom URC and the Investec Champions Cup, Paulo stands ready to contribute to the team's successes, ensuring that his debut is just the beginning of a notable tenure with the Stormers.
