Eben Etzebeth crowned undisputed king of South African rugby

Eben Etzebeth has been crowned the SA Rugby Player of the Year after helping the Springboks win an unprecedented fourth World Cup in 2023.

EBEN ETZEBETH WINS BIG

The Springbok enforcer won the biggest award on offer for a second year in a row edging out fellow World Cup winners Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse.

The 32-year-old Springbok lock was also shortlisted for the World Rugby Player of the Year award for 2023, but narrowly missed out to All Blacks star Ardie Savea. Additionally, Etzebeth named in the World Rugby Team of the Year for his phenomenal performances throughout the 2023 season.

THE BEST OF THE REST AT THE SA RUGBY AWARDS

As expected, the double World Cup-winning Springboks were crowned Team of the Year ahead of the Cheetahs (Currie Cup winners) and the Stormers (URC finalists).

Former Springbok boss Jacques Nienaber was named Coach of the Year for steering the Test team to World Cup gory in France; while Canan Moodie scooped the Young Player of the Year prize.

Libbie Janse van Rensburg was crowned Springbok Women’s Player of the Year as well as Provincial Women’s Player of the Year; while Ricardo Duarttee, fondly known as Tricky Ricky, picked up the Springbok Sevens Player of the Year.

Cheslin Kolbe’s crucial conversion charge-down in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France was voted as the Fans’ Moment of the Year; while another Springbok, Manie Libbok, was voted as Fans’ Player of the Year.

Match official Jaco Peyper took home the SA Rugby Referee of the Year award.

In the other categories, the Junior Springbok Player of the Year award went to Corne Beets, Cheetahs captain Ruan Pienaar was crowned as Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year and Cameron Hufke was selected as Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year.

The SA Rugby Associate Member of the Year award went to the SA Deaf Rugby Association.