Damion Stander - Player of the Week
Player profile
We profile Damion Stander of Diocesan College (Bishops), our FNB Player of the Week, after his outstanding performance in Bishops win against Rondebosch Boys' High School in last Saturday's FNB Classic Clash.
Damion Stander was born in Cape Town on the 31 March 1986. Playing lock at Welgemoed Primary, Damion then moved across to Bishops in 2000 where he continued to play lock until 2003. It seems that his talents have really grown since his move to blind-side flank at the beginning of the year. At Craven Week trials he simply lifted his game through every round and has really come into his own in 2004.
Like many other previous 1st XV players, Damion is from School House, Top House to those in the know, a house that prides itself on its rugby. Two such recent old boys are Australian international Daniel Vickerman and England centre Stuart Abbott.
But like all team sports, it is also the players around him that enable Damion to perform the way he does. His loose-trio is made up of open-side fetcher Nic Fenton-Wells, Nick Mallett's nephew, and eighthman Justin Bijl, who all complement each other’s play. Damion’s strength lies in his ability always to get across the advantage line and his impressive tackle rate.
Off the field, Damion is a House prefect, waterpolo player and sprinter during the athletics season. Having just finished June exams, Damion is looking to further his studies in 2005. The big question is whether he will wear the blue and white stripes of UCT or the Maties' maroon. Either way, province will retain their talent.
We wish Damion the best of luck at Craven Week in Nelspruit.
