WP’S OWN SONNY BILL

JUNIOR Springbok Gino Cupido has been backed as one of the Western Province rookies to make his Stormers debut in this upcoming season’s United Rugby Championship.

Cupido, 20, who hails from Sir Lowry’s Pass and who played his schoolboy rugby for Hoërskool Strand, has made somewhat of a meteoric rise as a player.

Last year the centre, who is also comfortable playing on the wing, made his Western Province debut in the Currie Cup Premier Division. And earlier this year he also debuted for the Blitzboks at the Hong Kong tournament, scoring a try.

Cupido was also part of the Junior Bok squad that won the World Rugby Under-20 Championship title in Italy.

He has also played in some of WP’s games in this year’s Currie Cup, and looks set to get another go when the Kaapse span tackle the Pumas at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow.

And although WP have sukkeled in the competition, with five straight losses – assistant coach Dewaldt Duvenage reckons Cupido, alongside fellow midfield ace Damian Markus has shown great potential of making the step up to franchise rugby.

Duvenage wysed: “Gino is just an unbelievable specimen, almost two metres tall. He is fast, he can move, he is a good defender – sort of a Sonny Bill [Williams] vannie Strand. He can play behind the contact and he has brilliant feet. You should just go see some of his TikTok highlight videos.

“We are really fortunate to be blessed with such talented backs and Gino is definitely one that I think that will make his Stormers debut this season.”

Cupido told the Daily Voice he is loving his rise in the professional game and said: “I just feel privileged to be in this position and I must give all glory to God for that.

“But sometimes getting all this exposure at such a young age can go both ways, where you can get overawed by the occasion. So, for me it’s just to always try an keep my feet on the ground and stay humble.”