Province’s Du Toit scoops top gong as Lions rule SA Rugby awards

SPRINGBOK lock stalwart Pieter-Steph du Toit became the second lock in two seasons to be named South African Rugby Player of the Year.

The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of Lood de Jager who picked up the award last year.

Du Toit won the race for the biggest individual award in local rugby; beating

Winners

off the challenges from second row partner Eben Etzebeth and the Lions trio of Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel and Ruan Combrinck.

The Lions though, after their strong showing in Super Rugby were well rewarded with boss Johan Ackermann winning the Coach of the Year award for the second year running and the Super Rugby side scooping the Team of the Year award.

Also, hooker Malcolm Marx won the award for Young Player of the Year, while Elton Jantjies was named Super Rugby Player of the Year.

Rookie centre Jacques Nel won Try of the Year for his five-pointer against Western Province in the Currie Cup.

“It was a challenging year for South African rugby in many respects, but there were still a lot of wonderful achievements worth celebrating and all the players who won awards fully deserve to walk away with the spoils,” said acting Saru president Mark Alexander last night. – Jacques van der Westhuyzen