SA Rugby Awards: We predict our winners!
The nominees have been named for the 2023 SA Rugby awards. Here are our predictions on who will ultimately walk away with the prizes.
Five members of the Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok squad in France – Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse – were nominated for the SA Rugby Awards in the coveted SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award category for 2023, with Etzebeth up to defend the title he won last season.
SA Rugby announced the nominees – as voted for by members of the media and key stakeholders within the governing body – in nine categories on Tuesday. The winners will be named early next year.
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EBEN ETZEBETH THE FAVOURITE FOR SA RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Etzebeth will face stern competition from Kolisi and Du Toit, the winners of the Player of the Year Awards in 2021 and 2019 respectively, as well as Bok scrum anchor Malherbe and Willemse, a previous nominee in the category for Young Player of the Year (U23) and winner of the Youth Weeks Player of the Year Award in 2016.
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Nadine Roos will also defend her title as Springbok Women’s Player of the Year at the SA Rugby Awards, against former winners Aseza Hele and Babalwa Latsha, as well as Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Rights Mkhari.
Four of the five nominees for the Young Player of the Year Award were also on the shortlist last year, when Canan Moodie beat off the challenges of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jaden Hendrikse and Evan Roos. This year, Ruan Venter has also been nominated.
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THE NOMINEES ARE (WITH OUR PREDICTIONS IN BRACKETS):
SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Eben Etzebeth)
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Eben Etzebeth
Siya Kolisi
Frans Malherbe
Damian Willemse
WATCH: The ultimate, poetic video tribute to Siya Kolisi
Springbok Women’s Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Nadine Roos)
Aseza Hele
Libbie Janse van Rensburg
Babalwa Latsha
Rights Mkhari
Nadine Roos
SA Rugby Young Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Canan Moodie)
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
Jaden Hendrikse (Springboks / Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Canan Moodie (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls)
Evan Roos (Springboks / DHL Stormers)
Ruan Venter (Emirates Lions)
Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Ricardo Duarttee)
Ricardo Duarttee
Christie Grobbelaar
Shilton van Wyk
Junior Springbok Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Damian Markus)
Corne Beets
Paul de Villiers
Damian Markus
Team of the Year (Who we think will win: Springboks)
Toyota Cheetahs (Currie Cup)
Springboks
DHL Stormers (Vodacom URC)
Coach of the Year (Who we think will win: Jacques Nienaber)
John Dobson (DHL Stormers)
Hawies Fourie (Toyota Cheetahs)
Jacques Nienaber (Springboks)
Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Ruan Pienaar)
Tinus de Beer (Airlink Pumas)
Ruan Pienaar (Toyota Cheetahs)
Devon Williams (Airlink Pumas)
Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year (Who we think will win: Darian Hock)
Keagan Fortune (Valke)
Darian Hock (Boland Kavaliers)
Cameron Hufke (Boland Kavaliers)
PICTURES | Inside Springbok captain Siya and Rachel Kolisi’s Paris home