While more and more Springboks are choosing to ply their trade abroad these days, it looks like SA won’t be losing its captain Siya Kolisi. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/Sports Inc
BREAKING: Kolisi named SA Rugby Player of the Year!
Springbok captain and loose forward Siya Kolisi has been deservedly named as the SA Rugby Player of the Year for 2021.
While more and more Springboks are choosing to ply their trade abroad these days, it looks like SA won’t be losing its captain Siya Kolisi. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/Sports Inc
Kolisi was nominated alongside Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth and Makazole Mapimpi, who battled it out for the coveted SA Rugby Player of the Year award after earning the most votes in the annual nomination process.
The winners in the various categories of the SA Rugby Awards for 2021 were announced on Twitter (@Springboks) from 09:30 on Thursday, which culminated with the naming of the winner of the SA Rugby Player of the Year award, at 10:30.
The popular Springbok captain garnered the most votes for his performances during a tough season, while the exciting Aphelele Fassi underlined his great potential by winning the Young Player of the Year award.
Kolisi – who was named the Springbok Player of the Lions Series last year and was the only Springbok to play in all 13 Tests in 2021 – led South Africa to a superb series victory over the British & Irish Lions in August and went on to captain the side under difficult circumstances in the Rugby Championship, which culminated with a nail-biting win over the All Blacks.
Fassi made his Springbok debut in 2021 and although he featured in only two Tests – scoring superb tries on both occasions – he showed that he is one for the future playing with increased maturity at fullback and on the wing.
As a result of showing true grit while spending five months in various bio-secure bubbles in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom and delivering some outstanding performances – notably coming from 1-0 down to clinch the Lions Series – the Springboks were named Team of the Year for 2021.
In a brand-new category, Lusanda Dumke was named Springbok Women’s Player of the Year, while the Border captain also walked away with the award for Provincial Women’s Player of the Year after leading her side to the Women’s Premier Division title.
Ronald Brown capped a fine debut season for the Blitzboks as he was named Springbok Sevens Player of the Year, while Henco van Wyk’s performances in the Under-20 International Series saw him walk away with the award for Junior Springbok Player of the Year.
Aimee Barrett-Theron capped a remarkable season by winning the Referee of the Year Award for the second time, after she also walked away with the accolade in 2019.
Another new award, the Try of the Year – which was voted for by supporters on various digital platforms – went to Cheslin Kolbe for his superb and crucial try in the third Test against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town.
The Bulls’ second successive Carling Currie Cup title was reflected as Jake White was named Coach of the Year for the second year running, while their up-and-coming loose forward Elrigh Louw edged out teammate Johan Goosen and co-flanker Evan Roos in the race to Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year.
The award for Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year, which wasn’t contested in 2020, was won by Dylan Maart of the Boland Kavaliers, whose eight tries were the most in the competition last year.
“Siya Kolisi led from the front as the Springboks completed what was arguably their toughest season – for many reasons – in a very long time,” said Mark Alexander.
“Supported very well by Jacques Nienaber and his coaching team, as well as his teammates, Siya showed true leadership under challenging conditions, and he became better as the year progressed, which culminated with a spot in the World Rugby Dream Team for 2021, along with Makazole, Lukhanyo, Eben and Malcolm Marx.
“Aphelele is a star in the making and last year we saw glimpses of what he can do, which is why he fully deserves the award for Young Player of the Year, while Cheslin’s try-scoring exploits are well-documented and his excellent five-pointer in the final Test against the Lions was crucial in helping the Boks clinch the series.
“Lusanda, Ronald and Henco are all deserved winners after stellar performances as three of our other national teams kept the South African flag flying high around the world.
You can check out all the SA Rugby award winners – including Kolisi – below:
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