The games have been played, and now it is time for the red carpet to be rolled out as the country’s most outstanding athletes get ready to attend the annual SA Rugby Awards ceremony.
This year’s event is set to take place in our very own Mother City, Cape Town, in an evening that honours the men and women that put their bodies while wearing the proud colours of the provincial teams and the green and gold of our national side, the Springboks.
Last year marked a successful year for coach Rassie Erasmus and his men. This saw the Bok coach give opportunity to a wealth of talented players, all of whom are now a part of his plans ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Despite experimenting with a record 52 players across 13 matches, the Springboks have continued on the success of 2023 by collecting even more silverware in the form of the ever-important Rugby Championship trophy, Freedom Cup, Nelson Mandela Plate, and Qatar Airways Cup, as well as the Prince William Plate.
Some standout players from the year included players like Pieter Steph du Toit who also won the award for World Rugby Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards, runner-up Cheslin Kolbe, as well as the team’s latest recruit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who heavily impressed fans since making his debut last year against Wales – and was also nominated for Breakthrough Player of the Year at last year’s World Rugby Awards.
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While the team has gathered collective success, many of these men will now be looking to gain some individual accolades at the domestic awards evening, with the top prize up for grabs being the SA Rugby Player of the Year award.
Here are some of the nominees ahead of the award ceremony:
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year
- Damian De Allende
- Pieter-Steph du Toit
- Eben Etzebeth
- Cheslin Kolbe
- Ox Nche
SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year
- Aseza Hele
- Libbie Janse van Rensburg
- Chumisa Qawe
- Nadine Roos
- Vainah Ubisi
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SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
- Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu
- Cameron Hanekom
- Jordan Hendrikse
- Quan Horn
- Henco van Wyk
Team of the Year
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Springboks
- Springbok sevens
Coach of the Year
- Rassie Erasmus
- Philip Snyman
- Jake White
Also see: Ex-Springbok Jean De Villiers reckons Siya Kolisi at next World Cup could be magical
