Springbok trio make URC Elite XV team of the season

Four South Africans, including three Springboks, have been selected in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Elite XV for the 2022-23 season.

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All five participating nations are represented in the URC Elite XV.

The defending champions, the Stormers, have two representatives in the composite side, Daniel du Plessis and Steven Kitshoff, while the Bulls and Sharks have one each with the inclusion of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Grant Williams.

Kitshoff, Arendse and Williams are all capped and current Springbok players.

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Ireland accounted for six of the 15 players selected, which were determined by a media vote, with two each from Scotland and Italy and one from Wales.

A total of 11 teams – and seven of the top eight sides – had at least one player included, with Leinster leading the way with three.

Players had to have made a minimum of nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel given a shortlist of 10 players per position, provided by URC StatMaster. The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.

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THREE SPRINGBOK PLAYERS IN TEAM OF THE SEASON

URC Elite XV – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), 14 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), 13 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Daniel du Plessis (Stormers), 11 Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), 10 Ross Byrne (Leinster), 9 Grant Williams (Sharks), 8 Gavin Coombes (Munster), 7 Scott Penny (Leinster), 6 Vaea Fifita (Scarlets), 5 Federico Ruzza (Benetton), 4 Niall Murray (Connacht), 3: Finlay Bealham (Connacht), 2 Dan Sheehan (Leinster), 1 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).

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Places in the Elite XV are the latest accolades to be revealed as part of three weeks of URC Awards announcements. Try of the Season, Ironman, Golden Boot and Fans’ Player of the Season are to be disclosed next week.

The Coach of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season are then revealed in the build-up to the final.

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URC Awards 2022-23:
OFX Top Try Scorer: Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Tackle Machine: John Hodnett (Munster)
Turnover King: Thomas Young (Cardiff)
Next-Gen Player of the Season: Tom Stewart (Ulster)

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THE URC ELITE XV OF THE SEASON GRAPHIC