Nominations open for SA Rugby Player of the Year Awards

Members of the media will play a part in nominating their player choices, while other stakeholders, as well as key staff members from SA Rugby, will also be involved in the voting process in some of the award categories.

OPINION: KOLISI THE FRONTRUNNER FOR SA RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR!

Unlike in 2020, when winners in only eight categories were named, the 2021 season will see a total of 10 winners named with a number of categories still in limbo due to the COVID-pandemic.

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The confirmed categories are as follows:

• SA Rugby Player of the Year
• SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Springbok Sevens Player of the Year
• Junior Springbok Player of the Year
• Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
• Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year

Earlier this year, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was voted the Springbok of the Lions Series, following his outstanding performances in the green and gold in their series victory over the British & Irish Lions.

This year will see the return of the Women’s Achiever Award, after a full season of female rugby that included the Women’s Premier and First Divisions, as well as four Tests and two other internationals for the Springbok Women’s team.

The Referee of the Year and Women’s Achiever of the Year will also be awarded following internal voting processes.

PLAYER RATINGS | WHO STOOD OUT – AND WHO FLOPPED – FOR THE SPRINGBOKS

Of course, the primary focus of these awards will centre on who is named as the SA Rugby Player of the Year, particularly considering that not a single Springbok player was included in the nominations for World Rugby Player of the Year.

Kolis, Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende and Makazole Mapimpi are expected to be among the top contenders for the main award.