Nominees revealed for SA Rugby Awards 2024
Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, is one of five nominees in SA Rugby Awards in the Men’s Player of the Year for the past season. Etzebeth – SA Rugby’s Men’s Player of the Year in the past two seasons – and Kolbe were also nominated for the World Rugby Award, while De Allende and Nche, both members of World Rugby’s 2024 Dream Team, added their names to a star-studded shortlist for the top award in South Africa with consistently good performances in the Green and Gold.
SA Rugby announced the nominees – as voted for by members of the media and coaching staff from the governing body – in nine categories on Friday. The winners will be named early next year, along with the annual OUTsurance Referee of the Year, Provincial Women’s Player of the Year and Associate Member of the Year.
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The five players nominated for SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year all played key roles helping the Springbok Women win the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2025 in England. They are Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Nadine Roos, all previous winners of the award, as well as Chumisa Qawe and Vainah Ubisi.
Five players who underlined their massive potential were nominated for the Young Player of the Year Award. Four of them – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cameron Hanekom, Jordan Hendrikse and Quan Horn – made their Test debuts in 2024 and the fifth, Henco van Wyk, played for the SA ‘A’ side two years ago.
The three players nominated for the Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year Award all helped South Africa qualify for and win the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. They are Blitzbok captain Selvyn Davids, who is currently recovering from an injury, as well as Zain Davids and Ryan Oosthuizen.
SA RUGBY AWARDS NOMINEES HAVE BEEN REVEALED AFTER AN EXCITING SEASON
Bathobele Hlekani, Jurenzo Julius and JF van Heerden all put up their hands for the South African Under-20s this year and are the nominees for the Junior Springbok Player of the Year Award.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has been nominated with Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens) and Jake White (Vodacom Bulls) for the Coach of the Year Award, while the Springboks and Blitzboks are up against the Hollywoodbets Sharks for the Team of the Year.