Former Cheetah hooker's 'attributes' stand out for Dobson
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson sang the praises of former Cheetahs hooker Vernon Paulo, who is the latest player to put pen to paper with the Cape Town-based outfit.
After making a name for himself in the Varsity Cup with the North West University Eagles and winning the 2023 title, Paulo joined the Cheetahs and played in the Currie Cup and Challenge Cup for the Bloemfontein-based side.
The powerful 24-year-old is a product of the Western Cape, having been born and raised in Riversdale and attending Oakdale Landbou.
He will battle for the No.2 jumper against JJ Kotze, Lukhanyo Vokozela and Springbok Andre-Hugo Venter, with veteran Scarra Ntubeni also in the mix.
Dobson said that Paulo’s clear natural abilities and his passion for the team made him an attractive prospect.
“Vernon has all the attributes to mix it with the best, and we are confident that we can develop his game further in our system. He certainly has the drive to improve and compete in every area.
“On top of all that, he is also incredibly passionate about playing for this team, having grown up as a supporter of ours, and we know that he will be putting all he has into representing our fans with pride when he gets the opportunity,” he said.
Paulo said that he is determined to make the most of the move to Cape Town.
“This is a dream come true for me, but this is just the start. I am going to work hard to be at my absolute best for this team and contribute to the cause.
“My father is from Langa, and I have supported this team my whole life, so this is a homecoming of sorts for me.
“I want to show what this means to me by the way I play and hopefully add to the success of the team,” he said.
