Du Toit bags top player award
Pieter-Steph du Toit became the second Springbok lock in two seasons to be named SA Rugby’s Player of the Year at a glittering awards ceremony at the Gallagher Conference Centre in Midrand last night. The 24-year-old Du Toit follows in the footsteps of last season winner Lood de Jager, on a night when eight of the winners were aged 25 or younger. The average age of all the players who won awards was 22.7 years. The Springbok and DHL Stormers lock fought off strong challenges for the top award from his middle row partner Eben Etzebeth, and a trio of Boks from the Emirates Lions – Ruan Combrinck, Jaco Kriel and Warren Whiteley. The Golden Lions, however, did do exceptionally well at the awards, with a total of five awards heading back to Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg. “To see so many young players step up and make their mark certainly bodes well for the future and I would like to congratulate all the winners, as well as those who were nominated,” SA Rugby acting president Mark Alexander said. The award winners were: SA Rugby Player of the Year: Pieter- Steph du Toit Young Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx Players’ Player of the Year, presented by MyPlayers: Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks) Team of the Year: Emirates Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby) Coach of the Year: Johan Ackermann (Emirates Lions, Xerox Golden Lions) Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Curwin Bosch SA Sevens Player of the Year: Seabelo Senatla Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Year: Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions) Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Ox Nche (Toyota Free State Cheetahs) Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Masixole Banda (Border) Supersport Try of the Year: Jacques Nel (Xerox Golden Lions v DHL Western Province, Currie Cup Premier Division) Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Year: Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province) Outsurance Referee Award: Rasta Rasivhenge Springbok Women’s Achiever Award: Marithy Pienaar Best Development Programme Award: Blue Bulls Rugby Union Nominees: KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, Western Province Rugby Football Union
