SA Rugby Awards reveals stellar cast of nominees for Men's Player of the Year

Springbok great Pieter-Steph du Toit - who was recently named World Rugby's Player of the Year for the second time in his illustrious career - is joined by fellow World Cup heroes Damian De Allende, Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Ox Nche in a mouthwatering lineup for Player of the Year honours.

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 their superlative performances in the Green and Gold over the past 12 months.

SA Rugby also announced the nominees in eight other categories on Friday and the winners will be named early next year.

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 - Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cameron Hanekom, Jordan Hendrikse, Quan Horn and Henco van Wyk.

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, Zain Davids and Ryan Oosthuizen.

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 along with Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman and Bulls boss Jake White for the Coach of the Year Award, while the Springboks and Blitzboks are up against the Sharks for Team of the Year.

All of the SA Rugby Awards nominees

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

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cameron Hanekom, Jordan Hendrikse, Quan Horn, Henco van Wyk

Springbok Sevens Men's Player of the Year – Selvyn Davids, Zain Davids, Ryan Oosthuizen

Junior Springbok Player of the Year – Bathobele Hlekani, Jurenzo Julius, JF van Heerden

Team of the Year – Hollywoodbets Sharks, Springboks, Springbok Sevens

Coach of the Year – Rassie Erasmus (Springboks), Philip Snyman (Blitzboks), Jake White (Bulls)

Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year – Renzo du Plessis (Lions), Clinton Swart (Pumas), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks XV)

Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year – Jayden Bantom (EP), Ashlon Davids (Boland Kavaliers), Thurlow Marsh (Boland Kavaliers)

READ MORE: Rassie praised for taking Springboks to the top through depth and innovation