Damian Willemse is a South African rugby union player, born on May 7, 1998, in Strand, Western Cape.
A product of Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch, he exploded onto the professional scene straight out of school, making his Stormers debut at just 18 years and 301 days old.
Primarily a fullback, he is the ultimate utility back, comfortable at flyhalf, inside centre, and even on the wing.
Siblings
Damian’s older brother, Ramone Samuels, is also a professional rugby player; they even won the Currie Cup together with Western Province in 2017.
The brothers have different surnames because Ramone was born before their parents were married.
Ramone, who is four years older, has spoken of playing touch rugby with Damian on the beach from a very young age.
After retiring from rugby due to injury, Ramone chose a unique career path, and together with Damian, they run a funeral home called SamWill Funeral Services in Cape Town.
Their entrepreneurial spirit has even been featured on the South African reality show ‘Die Ondernemers’.
Damian also has two younger sisters, Farren and Kristy-Grace, who were thrilled to welcome their big brother home after his World Cup victory in 2023.
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Career
Willemse’s career has been a rollercoaster of immense hype and hard-earned success.
He became a YouTube sensation while still at school, with videos showcasing his extraordinary running game and ability to beat defenders with speed and power.
This created enormous expectations when he joined the Stormers straight from his matric exams.
He made his Stormers debut in 2017 and his Springbok debut a year later, in 2018, against Argentina.
However, the early years were not without struggle.
As a teenager, he was often asked to guide a struggling Stormers team and was heavily scrutinized for every mistake.
But he showed remarkable resilience, bouncing back from every setback with steely determination. His loyalty to the Stormers is a defining feature of his career.
In 2022, he rejected huge offers from overseas clubs and the Bulls to sign an unprecedented five-year extension with the Stormers, prioritizing his love for the club over financial gain.
He was instrumental in the Stormers winning the inaugural United Rugby Championship title that same year.
On the international stage, he has evolved from a utility back in the famed “Bomb Squad” to the starting fullback for the Springboks, famously starting in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final victory over the All Blacks.
He credits learning from veterans like Frans and Morné Steyn, as well as current teammates, for his development into a complete player.
Accolades
Willemse is a member of an elite group of players who have won two Rugby World Cup medals, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this feat.
His other major titles include the Currie Cup with Western Province in 2017 and the United Rugby Championship with the Stormers in 2022.
He is also a Rugby Championship winner with the Springboks. He has reached the milestone of 100 appearances for the Stormers and earned his 50th Test cap for South Africa.
He was also included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Awards.
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