The former NWU Eagles hooker, Vernon Paulo was part of their title-winning squad in 2023. He was part of a substantial group of young men who have made their debuts in 2023 Currie Cup Campaign.

An Oakdale alumnus was superb as an Eagles' dynamo in the front-row, eye-catchingly bustling but also willing to put in the hard yards in terms of work rate.

He reserved his best performance for when the stakes were at their highest, a thrilling final against Ikeys, Paulo scored a brace of tries and also memorably flattened opposition half-back, Asad Moos in the second half in a Man of the Match showing.