On Saturday evening at DHL Stadium, the lights will shine a little brighter, the cheers will echo a little louder, and the number on the team sheet next to Damian Willemse’s name will carry a little more weight. The prodigious Springbok utility back will earn his 100th cap for the DHL Stormers, a rare and hard-earned milestone in professional rugby.
And remarkably, the milestone coincides with his birthday – 27 years old today – the perfect marker for a player whose journey has blended brilliance with resilience in equal measure.
It’s going to be a special occasion playing in my 100th game on Saturday. Coming in at 18, I had just finished matric, and three months later, I got the opportunity to make my debut. All those opportunities made me into the player that I am today.
Willemse’s story begins in Strand, a seaside suburb with postcard beaches but a harsh socioeconomic backdrop. Growing up in a community battling the lingering effects of apartheid’s spatial planning, unemployment, and crime, Willemse never forgot his roots. Instead, he used them as motivation.
He emerged as a schoolboy prodigy from Paul Roos Gymnasium, dazzling scouts and selectors with his blend of flair, footwork, and fearlessness. By 16, he was representing Western Province at Grant Khomo Week; by 18, he was a national schools standout. His rise was meteoric, but not without obstacles.
Thrown into the cauldron of Super Rugby at just 18 years old, Willemse was asked to guide an inconsistent Stormers side through difficult seasons. The weight of expectation was immense, and the criticism unrelenting. Yet, he never buckled.
There were times when I made mistakes and faced heavy criticism, but I never lost sight of my goals. It gave me a reality check. Being out of the game for a while because of injuries made me appreciate how precious each game is.
That perspective came after a challenging 2024 season, in which a groin and finger injury sidelined him for nearly half a year. But in typical Willemse fashion, he returned hungrier than ever — and more versatile. Whether at fullback, flyhalf, or inside centre, he brings the same competitive edge and game-breaking instincts that have become his signature.
Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Dragons brings an added thrill: for the first time, Willemse will start alongside Manie Libbok, Warrick Gelant, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in a potentially electric backline.
It’s always been either Manie, or Sacha, or me that have been injured, but now all four of us are healthy and ready to play. Over the last few weeks, we’ve really started to synergise.
Of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Willemse is effusive in his praise.
[Sacha] is a brilliant player. He’s stepped up and played really well for us — especially in the Benetton game, with some of his kicks and the tries he set up. He’s that wildcard who pulls something out of the hat and puts teams under pressure.
For Willemse, Saturday’s centurion status is not just personal validation but a symbol of his journey through the Stormers’ transformation — from underachievers to 2022 URC champions.
When I was a junior, I was surrounded by legends — Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Pieter-Steph [du Toit]. Their influence helped shape me. The personnel that the club has brought in, together with the coaching staff’s ideas, has made us a strong and competitive team in the URC.
Coach John Dobson’s faith has been instrumental, as has Willemse’s ability to adapt tactically.
It’s not about the number on your back. We analyse the opposition and try to be adaptable in different scenarios. It’s about reading the game, and as a backline group, signing off on decisions together.
Off the field, Willemse has grown into a powerful advocate for social and environmental causes. From cleaning Strand Beach to planting over 500 trees in his community, he is using his platform to give back — especially to the youth who look up to him.
His success story, grounded in community, lifted by perseverance, and elevated by brilliance, is far from over. With two Rugby World Cups already to his name, and still at the peak of his powers, Damian Willemse’s best chapters may still be unwritten.
At the end of the day, a special occasion is cool. But the first priority is to win the game and make ourselves and our fans proud.
One hundred games in, and Damian Willemse isn’t slowing down. He’s just getting started.
