It turns out that the Springboks’ collection of gold did not stop at last year’s global showpiece in France.
This is because on Thursday evening men and women came together to celebrate local and international excellence at this year’s annual South African Rugby Awards evening.
In attendance at the star-studded event were players who excelled in various divisions from domestic to those who donned the green and gold jerseys at the biggest stage.
After winning last year’s Rugby World, it only seems that some of the big wins came from this four-time World cup winning team.
This resulted in the Stormers fly-half Manie Libbok walking away with the award for Vodacom URC’s Fan’s Player of the Year for his contribution in leading the Cape Town team to yet another final and ultimately carrying his Springbok team in the initial absence of Handre Pollard at the World Cup.
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At the just 21- years old Blue Bulls wing Canan Moody walked away with the Young Player of the Year award for a second successive year.
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Since blasting onto the professional scene as a teenager, Canan has shown signs of a mature player that turned him into an international star.
Ultimately there could only be one player who walked away with the top honours and that guy was the lock Eben Etzebeth who beat the likes of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph Du Toit and Damian Willemse and claimed the SA Rugby Player of the Year award.
As with Canan, this is the second time in a row that Eben claimed the honour.
Speaking about the achievement – Elizabedi – as he became affectionately known, said the following:
“We always say in the Springbok team that it’s all about the team. I may have been lucky to get the award tonight but I think any of my teammates could have gotten it. Thank you to the team and Rassie for selecting me.
“Obviously 2023 was a big low for me and my family, but there were also a few massive highs like getting married, winning the World Cup, and my wife and I being pregnant. So yeah, it was a massive year for me,” he ended.
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Also see: A look inside Eben Etzebeth and Anlia’s new home overlooking the ocean
