THE Strand area has been producing big-name rugby players for as long as any of us can remember.
Imagine drukking a beach touchies game and the likes of Damian Willemse, Willie le Roux, Steven Kitshoff, the Leyds brothers Tristan and Dillyn, Willemse’s bro Ramone Samuels and the Rose brothers Earl and Jody rock up.
Gevaarlik. Those are just some of the big names coming from the region in recent years.
There are a vrag good rugby schools in the region, with Hoërskool Strand delivering four Springbok players in its history.
Colin Beck was the first, Earl the second, Le Roux the third and Uzair Cassiem the third.
And the latest name-lekker to come from this school is none other than Gino Cupido, who at the age of 19, was selected for the Blitzboks team to play at the Hong Kong Sevens next week.
Of his inclusion, Bliztbok coach Philip Snyman says: “Gino is really talented and has been close to selection a couple of times, and I am really pleased for him. He worked hard over several months now.”
A statement released by the team adds: “In 2023, Cupido represented South Africa in Sevens at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, and the SA U18 side in their International Series in the Western Cape.
“[He] will slot in at centre, his regular position in fifteens. He has represented Western Province at junior and senior level and is in the current Junior Springbok training group.”
The Blitzboks will face Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand in a tough Pool B.
BLITZBOK SQUAD: Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Ricardo Duarttee, Selvyn Davids, Dewald Human, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Quewin Nortje, Donavan Don, Gino Cupido, Zander Reynders, Tristan Leyds.